(From fourth left) PRM secretary-general Koh Swe Yong and PRM complaints and welfare bureau (central) head Lee Hoi Eng, together with other PRM members and business owners, pictured during a press conference in front of Lee's shop in Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 8 in Kepong Entrepreneurs Park. - AZMAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 8 business owners in Kepong Entrepreneurs Park are upset after being ordered to move their Na Tuk Kong shrines indoors.
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) complaints and welfare bureau (central) head Lee Hoi Eng said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) should respect the owners’ culture and belief in worshipping Na Tuk Kong outside their premises.
Na Tuk Gong, also known as Datuk Gong, is a guardian spirit worshipped by the Chinese communities in Malaysia, Singapore and parts of Indonesia. The shrines, which include a statue of the deity, are usually built just outside the owner’s premises.
“There are six Na Tuk Kong statues and altars on Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 8, which have been here for years.
“I received a verbal warning from DBKL early this month, asking me to move the Na Tuk Kong statue and altar in front of my shop into my premises.
“It is our belief that the Na Tuk Kong shrines should be placed outside our premises. We are not causing any obstruction to the road or parking spaces, nor are we earning any money for placing them there,” he said during a press conference in front of his shop today (Feb 23).
In a notice dated Feb 4 issued to one of the shops there sighted by StarMetro, DBKL had ordered the owner to move the shrine into the premise within 14 days, citing Section 46(1)(a) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974, for building or placing structures on public spaces.
Lee also raised concerns about fire if the shrines are moved inside.
“It is normal for us to light up oil lamps when worshipping Na Tuk Kong. Hence, the risk of fire will increase if it is moved inside.
“There was a fire here last month and our fire hydrant was broken. Why is DBKL bothering our Na Tuk Kong shrines when they cannot even take care of these basic facilities well?” he asked.
“DBKL also said it received complaints that the Na Tuk Kong shrines are causing obstructions, which baffled me.
“I will write to DBKL to ask them to reconsider and also launch a petition and get signatures from the owners here to voice our dissatisfaction,” he said.
Also present were PRM secretary-general Koh Swe Yong and business owner Gary Chuah, who runs a food business on Jalan Metro Perdana Timur 8.
When contacted, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng’s assistant Dic Lai declined to comment on the issue.
DBKL has not responded to queries regarding the matter as of press time.
