Ho Ann Kiong Temple saga

The year of the Tiger bring a lot of story for 200 years old Ho Ann Kiong temple. On my previous post I mentioned the Temple was badly burnt and on the eve of Chinese New Year some denizen of Kuala Terengganu was begging for alms at the temple. Last Sunday, the Hokkien committee is organizing a fund-raising to fund the restoration the temple. See the news below.

Today it was reported that the political master in the State decided not to extend any financial assistance for the temple. Theses irked some of the Hokkien community.

Unlucky for the Hokkien Folks..this is not an election time. If it is, truckloads of building materials had been send to the site.

Ho Ann Kiong

Fire destroyed a 200 year-old Ho Ann Kiong temple(1810) in Kampung Cina, Kuala Terengganu at 9.30pm, 22nd Febrauary. The temple was also serve as a community centre for Hokkiens in Kuala Terengganu.

Beside the temple is a budget hotel- Hotel Seri Malaysia which was built on the land of the former Malay farm Market-Kedai Binjai.

The temple was a centre of a storm during the Chinese New Year for the citizen of Terengganu, that is supposedly well off with riches from petroleum income. See the following report.

Buletin Online: Sketsa Menyedihkan Tahun 2006 Berulang Kembali

Note: The per capita GDP of Terengganu is way above the country average. Yet it has amongst the highest poverty rates in the country.

Floating Mosque

Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque

Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque

Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque

Tanjung Bungah Mosque, Penang.

Putra Mosque, Putrajaya

Tengku Tengah Zaharah Mosque which is situated about 4Km from Kuala Terengganu Town Centre, is built on a floating platform on a lagoon by the mouth of Sungai Ibai . It is also known as the "The Floating Mosque" due to its unique design that creates an illusion of itself as floating on water.

This magnificent and unique Mosque are named after one of the matriarch in the Terengganu Royal house was designed by YM Raja Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Shah, a very well known Malaysian architect who himself a Prince coming from the Terengganu royal house.

Before the Crystal Mosque was built at Taman Tamadun Islam, this mosque was the iconic point of interest when visiting Kuala Terengganu.

The floating mosque concept was adopted by another two mosques; Masjid Putra in Putra Jaya and floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah in Penang.