Marvel of a timber temple

A sculptor from Fujian carving details into a large piece of wood. — Photos: LIM BENG TATT and LO TERN CHERN/The Star

THE picturesque town of Bukit Mertajam in Penang is set to welcome a magnificent new temple in the Sungai Rambai area.

The new Tow Boo Keong Temple in Sungai Rambai is slated for completion by 2027.

A feature that distinguishes Tow Boo Keong Temple as a masterpiece of traditional craftsmanship is that its wooden structures are being assembled without bolts or nails, but using interlocking brackets instead.

Temple chairman Goh Soo Loon (right) and project chairman Sing Kheng Seng (second from right) admiring the intricate carvings.

Over 20 skilled artisans from China are crafting intricate designs for the RM26mil house of worship that is being made using 800 tonnes of Merbau wood.

The temple’s wooden structures are being assembled without the use of bolts or nails.

Each of the temple’s towering wooden pillars are carved from a single trunk and will stand over 6m tall.

Artist’s impression of the completed temple expansion.

Construction, began in November 2019, is now halfway complete.

An artisan working on a design in front of sculptures that are ready for assembly.

Slated for completion by 2027, the new temple is an expansion of the original place of worship built in 1976 in nearby Jalan Sri Bukit.

Those interested in contributing towards construction can contact the temple secretariat at 019-442 2889.