Swee Ming (second right) presents the proposal to Uggah while Kim Loong and others look on during the courtesy call.
SIBU: Persatuan Penganut Da Wang Gong Salim Sibu is in the process of raising RM1.5 million to build a new temple next to the exiting dilapidated temple at Lot 1354 in Kong Yit Khim, Salim Zone 3.
Its chairman Penghulu Ten Kim Loong said it is necessary to build the new temple because the people at the area deserve to have a better place of worship.
“This temple was built in 1959 and is quite rundown with minimal maintenance.
“Some of the facilities had been damaged due to constant flooding and the locals at the area had wanted this temple to be rebuilt,” he said when met yesterday.
He also said that the temple is a historical building.
Currently, the working committee for the proposed new temple project led by Kapitan Theng Swee Ming is making efforts to raise RM1.5 million.
He said the cost would include cement, traditional Chinese carving in the temple, land, architecture drawing, earth filling, car park and so forth.
He also said that the temple site is about 0.53 acres, situated just next to the existing temple.
Kim Loong said that so far they had been receiving encouraging response, not just from the Chinese community but other communities.
On the work progress, he said that the ground had been raised to about five feet high.
“The sand was sponsored by Metagaya Sdn Bhd and we are very thankful for the contribution,” Ten said.
He, however, said the association still needs financial assistance to make this project a success.
“This temple is part of our Chinese culture and we should preserve it,” he pointed out.
Kim Loong and Swee Ming paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also the minister in charge of Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), recently to discuss on the project and possible funding for the project.
Kim Loong said Uggah would send the Unifor team to inspect the site.