QuickCheck: Is the grave of a powerful Penang woman from the 1800s currently at risk of exhumation?

THE descendants of Foo Teng Nyong (estimated 1816 to 1874) have said on social media that her grave off Jalan Bunga Telang in Fettes Park in Penang on a piece of land measuring roughly 0.25ha will be exhumed to make way for development.

On Tuesday (March 1), several of her descendants – including a great-grandson – said on social media that the present landowners had contacted them and requested that they exhume her grave to make way for development.

Additionally, another descendant revealed that he received emails and calls and was told to be present for the exhumation which would purportedly have been carried out between Feb 22 and 25.

Is this claim true?

VERDICT:

FALSE

The Star sent a team to check on the grave on Wednesday (March 2) and found that the grave was intact and the land at the border of the Tanjung Bungah and Kebun Bunga state constituencies showed no sign of any sort of intended earthworks.

When contacted, both Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Zairil Khir Johari and Kebun Bunga assemblyman Jason Ong Khan Lee confirmed that they were not notified of any sort of development application in the area.

By law, local assemblymen must be notified to give feedback on any development applications in their constituencies.

Teng Nyong was the third wife of Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, who played a pivotal role in the growth of Penang and Perak in the 1800s.

Keng Kwee left such an impact on Penang's economy, public healthcare, education and social welfare that two streets were named after him: Keng Kwee Street, where tourists today enjoy Penang Teochew Cendol, and Ah Quee Street which is the site of several iconic murals of the heritage enclave.

Teng Nyong gave birth to several sons and daughters, one of whom was Chung Thye Phin, who became a tycoon and philanthropist in George Town and Ipoh, Perak.