IPOH: After years of uncertainty, the land dispute involving the Datuk Kong Temple in Tanjung Piandang, Kerian will soon be resolved.
The Perak government has granted gazetted status to the temple site and freehold ownership to adjacent shoplots, says Sandrea Ng.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry committee chairman said the decision covers four parcels of land measuring about 0.6ha including the temple grounds and 29 shop house units.
This brings an end to an ownership dispute that has persisted for more than 13 years.
Ng said that historical records indicated the land was originally granted freehold status to several local Chinese residents between 1913 and 1918.
The owners allowed the temple to use the site for religious activities and rental purposes to sustain its operations.
"However, the formal transfer of ownership was never completed, leaving the names of the deceased original owners in official records. The land was subsequently forfeited in 2012 and reverted to state ownership," Ng added.
Speaking at the state secretariat building on Friday (Feb 27), she clarified the issue arose from administrative and technical compliance rather than religious or racial factors.
An earlier attempt to resolve the matter in 2018 granted only a 21-year lease, which left the dispute unresolved.
Under the latest decision, the temple site will be formally gazetted as a religious reserve, while the residential and commercial units receive freehold status.
Ng said the move reflects a commitment to resolving community issues fairly while safeguarding harmony in Perak.
Temple special committee chairman Kua Song Keat expressed gratitude to the state government for settling the long-standing issue.
He said the matter had dragged on for 14 years before being resolved through the efforts of various parties, including the Land Office and local leaders.
"The resolution brought relief to residents who had endured years of uncertainty. This is good news for the people of Tanjung Piandang," he said.
