ZINC roofing will be put up as a temporary measure after the 211-year-old Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) Temple in Penang was partly damaged by falling roof tiles during a downpour.
Temple executive secretary Toh Kim Kang said repair work was scheduled to be completed within a week.
“Workers of the appointed contractor have been working round the clock to mend the gaping hole to prevent water from flowing into the temple whenever there is a downpour.”
Plugging the leak: Workers carrying timber placed in the temple compound He added that devotees could still pray at the temple as only the affected altar housing some 54 statues of deities had been cordoned off.
“Even then, we have moved all the statues to a newly-built glass cabinet.
“Devotees can still offer prayers to Choo Sen Niao Niao and Confucius,” he said when met at the temple yesterday.
Many Chinese newly-weds come to the altar to pray to Choo Sen Niao Niao in the belief that she would bless them with children.
Devotees praying as a temple helper cleans up the temple's flooded inner court It was earlier reported that four statues of deities in the temple were damaged by falling roof tiles during a downpour on Monday.
Nobody was injured and the affected section was ordered closed temporarily for at least three months as a safety precaution.
The four statues which were damaged were the ones representing the disciples of Confucius.
Workers going about their task in mending the damage to the roof Other 50-odd statues on the altar include that of Di Zhang Wang Pu Sa (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva), Wen Chang Di Jun (Imperial Sovereign Wen Chang), Confucius and Choo Sen Niao Niao.
Toh said they had prepared for the worst when two roof tiles fell on the altar on Friday.
“The Kong Hock Keong board of trustees immediately constructed a new cabinet at the temple before a ritual was held to decide on the date to move the deities.
“We decided to move the statues on Tuesday but unfortunately, the incident happened on Monday night,” he said.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also expressed his concern over the damage at the temple.
He said the biggest problem now was in bringing in the Chinese craftsmen to carry out restoration work, adding that the temple board of trustees had applied for working permit for these craftsmen since May.
“We hope the Immigration Department can expedite the application.
“This is a Unesco World Heritage certified building and the state government will assist in whatever way we can.”
Lim, who visited the site, was accompanied by board of trustees chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong and vice-chairman Datuk Seri Khoo Keat Siew.
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