Fire damages 200-year-old Ho Ann Kiong temple

KUALA TERENGGANU: Fire has destroyed large parts of an old Chinese Temple built in 1801 here.

Authorities say initial investigation does not point to arson.

The Ho Ann Kiong temple, built by the early Hokkien community and situated at the city’s Chinatown tourist belt, was the oldest structure here.

Almost 60% of the temple was ravaged in the 9.30pm fire on Monday.

State Fire and Rescue Department’s officer Mohamed Amin Mohamad Basir said the fire could have started in the middle of the temple.

He said three engines with 15 fire officers managed to douse the fire in about 25 minutes.

Mohamed Amin said preliminary investigation showed there was no arson or sabotage involved. The probe to determine the actual cause of the fire and the estimated loss was underway.

State assemblyman for Bandar, Toh Chin Yaw who was also at the scene said devotees were devastated by the incident.

He said the temple was the oldest and largest Chinese place of worship in the state.

“Billows of smoke were first sighted at about 9.30pm but those living nearby could not enter the temple to douse the fire at that time as the front entrance was locked and they had to make distress calls to the relevant rescue agencies,” said Toh who is also the State MCA chief.

The temple’s building materials were brought in from China about 200 years ago.

“It not easy to rebuild the temple as some of the material inside was priceless and hard to be sourced now, even in China,” he said.

Kuala Terengganu MP Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut who was also at the scene said he would contribute funds for the restoration of the temple.

“The temple is part of our heritage and history. It should be rebuilt at any cost,” he said.