500-year-old temple in Kelantan to be restored

A temple, believed to be about 500 years old and possibly the oldest temple built by the earliest Hakka Chinese settlement in Kelantan, will be restored as a heritage site.  

Deputy Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Wong Kam Hoong said RM200,000 had been allocated this year for the restoration of the Swee Nyet Keung, or Water, Moon Temple, in Pulai, Gua Musang. 

“It has many interesting relics, including small cannons. 

“The early settlers walked from Thailand to search for gold there and later married locals and their descendants continue to speak Hakka today,” Wong said in Penang during the launching of the RM800,000 Hakka Heritage Centre at the Penang Khek Association building yesterday. 

Wong said when the gold supply in Pulai dwindled, the settlers became padi planters and sought other means of survival, adding that a group moved on to settle in Terengganu. 

He called for more research to determine whether the earliest Hakka community had settled in the country 500 years ago in Kelantan ahead of the 200-year-old Hakka settlement in Penang. 

Wong said these was evidence that the Chinese had settled in other parts of the country other than Malacca during the time of Admiral Zheng He's visits in the 15th century. 

Penang Khek Association president Datuk Cheah See Kian said they planned to construct an annex as an extension to the 278 sq m heritage centre located on the third floor of the association building. 

Also present was Federation of Hakka Association of Malaysia chairman Datuk Ng Teck Fong.