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MIRI, June 27: Dragon couple statues at Hai Long Si Temple in Krokop here have been completed after three years of construction.
“They are the biggest dragons in Malaysia so far with length (for male dragon) of 139 feet while 129 feet for the female (dragon),” said Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin today.
Lee disclosed, that the Sarawak government via Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) has provided funding amounting to RM2.2 million to help the Taoist temple’s committee with the project.
“I was informed also, that the board (temple) had spent RM22 million for the construction of the dragon couple statues,” he told local media after a ceremony to mark the completion of the project.
Lee added, that the construction of the statues was unique as it involved affixing 1,000 pieces of scales.
“Construction workers were putting all these dragon stone-like scales piece-by-piece…it was not an easy task, but they did it,” Lee disclosed.
He believed that the dragon couple at the front entrance to the temple building will become a new attraction in Miri City.
“The design of temple and the dragons are very much similar with those in China,” he said.
On another note, in 2025, the Hai Long Si Temple will host the ‘Nine Emperor Gods Festival’, where thousands of devotees from around the globe are expected to converged in Krokop Miri.
“This temple is fortunate to have the opportunity to become a host of this festival in 2025 in rotation which is once every 80 years,” said Lee.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting, Miri Mayor-cum-Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii and Unifor director Datu Jack Aman Luat. — DayakDaily
