Representatives from Streets of Harmony Bayan Baru’s six places of worship (from left) Snake Temple’s Datuk Lim Gim Hin, Gurdwara Sahib Bayan Baru’s Ajindar Kaur, Charismatic Church Penang’s Pastor Teoh Khay Min, Sri Vishvanather Sri Visalatchi Temple’s Rajendra Prasad, Than Hsiang Temple’s Tan Cheng Why and Surau Al-Ubudiah’s Nuur Nazri at the launch of the initiative. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT/The Star
TAKE a five-minute walk along the “Streets of Harmony” in Bayan Baru, Penang, and you will be able to visit six diverse places of worship.
Nestled within Bayan Baru neighbourhood is a street that’s home to Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple (Hock Hin Keong), Sri Visvanather Sri Visalatchi Temple, Charismatic Church of Penang, Gurdwara Sahib Bayan Baru, Than Hsiang Temple and Surau Al-Ubudiah.
All within a short walk of each other along Jalan Tokong Ular and Persiaran Mayang Pasir (the surau), the newly launched street offers a glimpse into the diversity of Penang folk.
This street, however, is not the first of its kind in the state.
Rather, it is the fourth, with the first three located in George Town (Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling), Seberang Perai and Bukit Mertajam.
Different houses of worship co-existing next to each other in The Streets of Harmony Bayan Baru.
Streets of Harmony is an initiative by the state government to identify religious communities in Penang that coexist and function near each other.
The Streets of Harmony in Bayan Baru was developed by Penang Development Corporation in the 1970s.
The area continues to evolve and now hosts a variety of places of worship.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was guest of honour at the event, said another such street was in the making in Butterworth.
Chow says the Streets of Harmony programme plays a vital role in promoting unity.
“Butterworth’s Streets of Harmony is still under construction through the efforts of the Penang Harmony Corporation.
“It takes time to build houses of worship.
“Like the Streets of Harmony in Bayan Baru, it is an example of how it is created through urban planning,” he said after the launch.
Chow said there were plans to turn the Streets of Harmony into tourist sites depending on suitability.
As an example, he pointed out that the Masjid Kapitan Keling area was also a tourist site.
Chow then explained why it was important to have places like the Streets of Harmony with various houses of worship in one area and in harmony.
“It plays a vital role in promoting unity across different races and religions, allowing communities to live together peacefully.
“This shows that all religions can have places of worship near each other.
“These efforts are necessary to show that all religions can coexist,” he said.
