ALOR SETAR: For more than a decade, master temple artisan Gan Kheng Leong gave life to the towering King of Hades (Tai Su Yeah in Hokkien) effigies that became the centrepiece of Hungry Ghost Festival celebrations in Kedah, with one even earning a place in the Malaysian Book of Records (MBOR).
On Saturday (June 27), the man behind those iconic creations died of liver cancer.
He was 66.
Affectionately known as "Little White Dragon", Kheng Leong collapsed while travelling to Kangar, Perlis, for work and died later that day.
He leaves behind his wife, Chai Yow Lien, 64, and their four daughters, Gan Feei Tsuey, 46, Gan Feei Feei, 43, Gan Feei Ling, 41, and Gan Jinly, 33.
His second daughter Feei Feei said her father remained devoted to his craft until his final moments despite his illness.
"He was diagnosed with liver cancer after seeking treatment last year for blood vessel-related problems.
"Even after learning he had a tumour in his liver, he stayed positive and even joked that he could live to 200 years old," said the property agent on Tuesday (June 30).
She said Kheng Leong was on his way to a work site in Kangar when he suddenly vomited blood and was rushed to hospital.
"Even while lying in the hospital, he was still worried about his work.
"He briefed his workers and reminded them of the tasks that had to be completed.
"He always told us that once he had promised a temple or deity that he would complete a project, he had to honour that promise. Even when he was unwell, he insisted on personally supervising every job," she said.
Feei Feei said her father had spent about 40 years in temple craftsmanship after learning the trade from his father at the age of 11, carving tombstones before moving into temple artistry.
Despite growing up in poverty, Kheng Leong never lost his passion for art.
"He often told us how he was punished by his teachers because his family, which had six siblings, couldn't afford a box of colour pencils.
"He had to save whatever little money he earned before he could finally buy a set.
"Perhaps because of that experience, he never hesitated to buy colour pencils or art supplies whenever we or his grandchildren wanted them," she said.
Kheng Leong's sculptures, relief carvings, decorative artwork and Chinese calligraphy can be found in temples across Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
He was best known for creating the annual King of Hades effigies for Tow Boo Keong Temple in Mergong.
In 2022, one of his creations entered the MBOR as Malaysia's tallest King of Hades effigy.
Standing 12.98m, roughly the height of a four-storey building, the paper effigy took Kheng Leong, his family and workers about a month to complete and was also the heaviest he had ever built.
Kheng Leong was commissioned to build the temple's King of Hades effigy every year from 2013, increasing its height slightly each year as a symbol of continuous progress.
His final effigy, completed in 2024, measured 14.8m high and over 9m wide, marking the 10th and last King of Hades effigy he created for the temple.
Feei Feei said the family declined last year's commission because the physically demanding work would have taken a toll on his health.
She added that just three days before his passing, Kheng Leong celebrated his 66th birthday with his family, who surprised him with his favourite durian cake.
Kheng Leong's wake is being held at his residence in Taman Datuk Kumbar here.
His funeral will begin at 10am on Wednesday (July 1), before he is laid to rest at Prestavest Memorial Park in Kubang Pasu, Kedah.
