By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, 5 May: The iconic 107-year-old Tua Pek Kong temple at Jalan Bendahara here is expected to become a bigger tourist attraction once its RM4 million extension and beautification works are completed next year.
Construction commenced end of last year and will take about 12 months to complete.
In disclosing this today during a site visit to the temple, Minister of Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin said, currently, the renovation and extension works are about 50 per cent completed.
The project involves the construction of a new two-storey block, which will house the administration office, a heritage museum and a seven metre-tall statue of the temple’s deity, Tua Pek Kong.
“During our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s visit prior to the fasting month recently, he had presenting a cheque on behalf of the Sarawak government to Miri Chinese Charitable Trust Board amounting to RM1 million to help fund the extension and renovations works of the temple,” he said.
Lee emphasised that it is crucial to preserve historical and heritage buildings and revive to revive them to encourage tourism without harming them.
The temple is managed by the Miri Chinese Charitable Trust Board.
Also present during Lee’s visit was the Charitable Trust Board’s chairman Temeggong Yong Vui Seng.
The temple, situated next to Miri’s old fish market, is the oldest temple in this district.
It is one of the few buildings which are still standing after surviving Japanese air raids during World War II. — DayakDaily
