Open day to honour Ghee Hin legacy

Lee (left) showing Yeap (centre, in red) and other clan members the painted wooden signs from last year’s open day that will be reused for this year’s event on July 7 at Meng Eng Soo Temple in George Town. Organisers are calling for artistes and food sellers to join the open day.

Many Penangites know the history behind Meng Eng Soo Temple but few, especially those unfamiliar with the Chinese language, know how romantic the name of the temple is. It literally means the Temple of Famous Heroes.

Meng Eng Soo is holding its open day again on July 7 for the George Town Heritage Celebrations 2019.

The carnival will return to Jalan Pintal Tali, Pesara Claimant and Lebuh Campbell.

“We are calling for volunteers to help us bring alive again the traditional arts and food that the Penang Chinese community is famous for,” said event organising chairman Lee Xue Yi.

He said registration was now open for the public to be volunteers, operate the stalls or exhibition booths or take part in stage and street performances.

Those eager to take part can fill out the form available on Meng Eng Soo’s Facebook page or contact Lee (010-387 0293) or Ooi Guo Shen (017-710 4882).

Penang Chinese Clan Council president Datuk Yeap Beow Chong said the open day was in honour of Ghee Hin Organisation, which was among the foremost Chinese societies that helped develop Penang when it was founded in 1786.

Yeap (third right) and other clan members posing in front of Meng Eng Soo Temple in Jalan Pintal Tali. —  Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

“We hope more people can come for the open day and get to know more about how our ancestors helped to build Penang,” he said.

Ghee Hin built Meng Eng Soo to remember the ‘famous heroes’ who were among the founders of the organisation.

Within the temple are the 165 ancestral tablets of those founding members, preserved in perfect condition to this day.

Besides providing social welfare services for all communities regardless of race, these original members built the first hospital for the poor in 1854, long before public healthcare became a government responsibility.

In the late 1800s, they donated land and raised funds to build Penang Hospital.

In 1867, however, its members fought bitterly with the rival Hai San society in what is remembered today as the Penang Riots.

Unable to contain the animosity, the then British Government criminalised both groups by declaring them secret societies.

To preserve their roots, Ghee Hin members later founded Meng Eng Soo under a different and legalised organisation in 1890.