Tourism spot in ruins

Tourism spot in ruins

EVEN the ‘gods’ have to make way for development, if the fate of the stone statues of Chinese mythological deities in Batu Maung, Penang, is anything to go by.

For the statues, along with those of Western cartoon icons, have to come down after the site, under a private ownership, was bought over by a developer two years ago.

State of neglect: The collection of statues lies in ruins on a privately-owned piece of land situated beside Penang's famous Admiral Zheng He Footprint Temple, also called Sam Poh Tong, in Batu Maung

Hence, what used to be one of Penang’s major attractions, referred to as the mini Haw Par Villa, is fast disappearing from the state’s tourism map.

Today, what is left of the statues, situated next to Penang’s famed Admiral Zheng He Footprint Temple (Sam Poh Tong), is barely recognisable.

Many of the stone structures have developed cracks or broken into pieces while the surrounding site is overgrown with unsightly creepers and bushes.

State of neglect: The collection of statues lies in ruins on a privately-owned piece of land situated beside Penang's famous Admiral Zheng He Footprint Temple, also called Sam Poh Tong, in Batu Maung

In short, the place is in a sorry state — a far cry from the 1950s-1990s when it used to be a popular tourism spot attracting busloads of tourists and shutterbugs, especially during public and school holidays.

Only three statues — the Fu Lu Shou (the Gods of Fortune, Prosperity and Longevity), Kuan Yin and Laughing Buddha — are still largely intact but their colours have faded.

Sam Poh Tong caretaker Ang Poh Keat, 68, said the site next to the temple became dilapidated after the land was bought over by a developer two years ago.

Penang's famous Admiral Zheng He Footprint Temple, also called Sam Poh Tong, in Batu Maung

“I heard the developer is going to build a luxurious hotel and place motorboats at the seaside,” he said.

He said it was sad to see a popular tourist spot having to make way for development.

“There’s nothing we can do as they (the developer) own the land now.”

Colourful memories: Old photo taken in 1997 during Lim's family vacation to Penang's mini Haw Par Villa in Batu Maung showing Lim as a boy posing next to the statues of Chinese deities still in good condition in their heyday

Local resident Lim Chin Seng, 23, felt sorry for the place’s rundown state as it was his favourite spot during his childhood days in the 1990s.

He recalled taking photos with the statues such as the Monkey God, Kuan Yin, Laughing Buddha, God of Prosperity and Ne Zha (a boy-god in Chinese mythology) as well as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Santa Claus, Statue of Liberty, Pegasus and Ninja Turtles.

Lim, who had not visited the site for the past few years, said he was saddened to see the broken statues when he took his friends, who came from other states, to the place recently.

“All that remains now are nostalgic memories of the place from my photo collections of those colourful statues,” he added.

~News courtesy of The Star~