by Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Feb 16: An innocuous question arrived via WhatsApp from a DayakDaily reader.
The reader wanted to know what was the story behind the giant red figure of a bald man sitting in a certain position with genitalia exposed within a local temple’s compound.
The statue in question is at the newly restored Golden Hill Temple in the former gold mining town of Bau. Thus, this reporter duly made his way to Bau in search of the answer to the question.
Once you reach the hill on which the temple sits, you have two options to get to the temple: a walk up the 1km-long tar-sealed road or the 800 stair steps stretched over 600 metres called Miner’s Walk.
According to an information board, either option would roughly take 15 to 20 minutes one way.
This DayakDaily reporter opted for the open road, forgoing the cooler and shaded brick-stairs route. It only took a 15-minute walk to reach the magnificent newly restored Golden Hill Temple.
The old decrepit temple structure was renovated and the building now boasts a fiery-red coat of paint, which makes it stand out on the top of the hill among the picturesque natural lush green surrounding and views.
Just as likely to leave visitors jaw-dropped is the giant red figure of a seated man some 3 metres high revealing its genitalia within the temple’s compound.
The man who brought the statue to the temple is Tecktonic & Sons Holding Sdn Bhd managing director Lee Chin Teck. When contacted, he revealed the statue in the vicinity of the temple symbolised fertility.
“The statue is for couples wishing for children when they come to pray at the temple and at the same time praying for their well-being and for prosperity,” he explained.
He further disclosed that he found a similar statue in Perth, Australia, but it was too costly for him.
“To save cost, I had it made it in China and I hoped that it (statue) could also bring people to the temple to seek solace and their needs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bau community leader, Pemanca Bong Jong Long, said that historical literature suggest the small shrine in those days was built by Hakka miners prospecting for gold in the 1820s, more than 200 years ago.
“It was their cultural and religious belief to have such a shrine as miners in those days needed a place to pray and have a place of worship, and that was when the temple possibly came into existence.
“We are happy that a successful business entity like Tecktonic is giving back to society by restoring and beautifying such a shrine and making it into a temple.
“The Chinese community in Bau and especially the descendant of these miners are grateful. We are thankful that the donations to the temple by the public, are given back to our associations to help the needy,” he said.
The entry fee for adults is RM10 per person, and for children is RM5 per person, inclusive of canned drinks which can be redeemed at a cafe (2 per adult ticket, 1 per child ticket). — DayakDaily
