THE Penang government has allocated RM30,000 while Bukit Bendera MP Wong Hon Wai has set aside RM10,000 from his parliamentary allocation to assist the Bats’ Cave Temple of Tua Peh Kong in Air Itam after the temple was damaged in a fire early this morning.
This over 200-year-old temple in Jalan Pokok Ceri is famed for the thousands of bats in the temple.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who visited the temple this evening, said the contribution was for the clearance works to be carried out.
“We will offer our assistance again when the temple is ready for restoration. For now, clearance works have to be done.
“The Bats’ Cave Temple has a long history and tradition. It is popular among the people.
“I hope that more people and kind donors can help the temple to ensure that restoration of the temple can proceed smoothly,” he told reporters during the visit.
The Temple Committee chairman Wong Loy Fook expressed his deepest gratitude to Chow and Wong for their kind assistance.
Also present were Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, who is also Chow’s political secretary, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng, and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Alissala Thian