E Contrario

On Saturday 20 January, we (Jasmine, Ginie and I) made a trip to Kangar to visit Cikgu Khoo. We had lunch with our members in Kangar.

Cikgu Khoo Yong Chang was our candidate in Indra Kayangan by-election in 2001. At the time I was in Kamunting. I came to know that it was a fierce battle between BN and Barisan Alternatif. Cikgu Khoo’s dedication to the party is admirable. He worked tirelessly to build the party. At one time when most of Perlis state leaders abandoned their responsibility, Cikgu Khoo single-handedly maintained the operation of the state office and the running of state affairs. He held the position of a state liaison chairperson between 2003 and 2005—in a Malay majority state. Isn’t it amazing? This only happened in KeADILan.

Cikgu Khoo and our members in Perlis brought to my attention a case of illegal appropriation of temple land. The temple of “Poh An Kong” is located in the middle of Kangar town. Its name literally means “protection for security”.

It was built by early Chinese pioneers who settled in Perlis some 200 years ago. The land was granted by the King to build place for worship. A few years ago the land was transfered from the committee of temple trustees to Hokian Association through some dubious means. The Association then drew up a plan for commercial development. As a result, the historical temple will be encircled by shophouses and big complexes.

The temple is intricately linked with the life of Chinese community in Kangar. It is also a testimony of history. Cikgu Khoo pointed to us the potrait of his deceased mother in the hall of the temple. The hall has a wall full of contributors to the construction of the temple. They are ancestors of many families in Kangar. Unfortunately under the plan, the entire hall will be demolished.

In fact the destruction has began a few weeks ago. The stage opposite the temple has been pulled down recently. All Chinese temples have a stage facing the temple. During festival, traditional opera theatre will be performed to entertain deities and mortals.

The turtle pond in front of the temple too had been filled with concrete. The developer left a small well to fulfill the purpose of ‘feng shui’. According to legend, the deity of Poh An Kong decreed that there shall always be a pond in front of the temple in order to rid the townsfolk off plague and evil. The developer is pious enough to obey the holy order!!

KeADILan members are now actively supporting the temple committee to defend this historical heritage. They want keep Poh An Kong intact. Currently the temple committee is seeking legal assistance from our party legal team to bring the matter to court.