Sunday January 29, 2012 Centuries-old temple fully restored

Sunday January 29, 2012

Centuries-old temple fully restored

By FARIK ZOLKEPLI
farik@thestar.com.my

KUALA TERENGGANU: Two years after it was damaged in a fire, the more-than-200-year-old Ho Ann Kiong temple in Kampung Cina has been restored to its former splendour.
The temple, built in 1801 and considered a major historical and tourism site, suffered major damage when fire swept through it in February 2010.
The RM1.3mil restoration work on the Buddhist temple was carried out with public funds.

Devotees offering prayers at the newly-restored Ho Ann Kiong Temple.

“We never found out the cause of the fire. We just wanted to restore it to its former beauty,” temple committee chairman Datuk Wee Cheng Huat told The Star yesterday.
“The temple is an important landmark for the Chinese, with thousands visiting it each year to offer prayers,” he said.
“We are happy it can finally be used again,” said Wee, thanking well-wishers and contributors who had pitched in for the restoration effort.

Former temple caretaker Tan Eng Hock cleaning up the temple grounds after the fire.

The temple, built by the early Hokkien community and situated in the city's Chinatown tourist belt, is the oldest structure in the area.

Wednesday February 24, 2010 200-year-old temple destroyed in night blaze By SAZALI M.NOOR

Wednesday February 24, 2010

200-year-old temple destroyed in night blaze

By SAZALI M.NOOR

newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA TERENGGANU: A large part of the 200-year-old Ho Ann Kiong Chinese temple in the Chinatown here has been destroyed in a fire.
The temple was built in 1801 by the early Hokkien community. It is among the oldest structure in the state.
Almost 60% of the building was destroyed in the 9.30pm fire on Monday night. No fatalities were reported.
State Fire and Rescue Department officer Mohamed Amin Mohamad Basir said preliminary investigations showed there were no elements of arson or sabotage involved.
Three fire engines with 15 firemen managed to put out the fire in about 25 minutes.
Those living near the temple first saw smoke billowing out from the building at 9.30pm but could not do much as the gate was locked, said state MCA chairman and Bandar state assemblyman Toh Chin Yaw.

Great loss: Bystanders preventing caretaker C.K. Tan, 24, from rushing into the burning temple in Kuala Terengganu on Monday night. Tan wanted to dash in to salvage the statue of the Goddess of the Sea or Ma Zu.

Rebuilding the temple would be a difficult endeavour as building materials were shipped in from China about 200 years ago, he added.
Kuala Terengganu MP Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut said he would contribute towards the temple restoration as it was part of the state’s heritage.
State Police Chief Senior Asst Comm 1 Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan said police would not compromise on any attempt by anyone to relate the fire to arson or attack on places of worship.

Trengganu's Lyrical Beauty 23 October 2011

MUSICAL duo Mohram pays tribute to enchanting Terengganu in its latest album, writes DENNIS CHUA.
TERENGGANU conjures up a multitude of images. For rock lovers, Faizal Tahir and Saleem instantly come to mind. For movie lovers, zany Zizan Razak and the suave Eman Manan represent the state.

And for flutist Muhardiman "Mohar" Ismail and drummer Ramli Hamid - known as Mohram - Terengganu is a harmonious blend of development, nature and heritage.
A visit to Terengganu with their families last year inspired the award-winning musicians to produce their third album: Alam (Nature).  It contains 6 songs, four of which feature the duo singing, for the first time.  We want to give listeners something different this time says Ramli. While instrumental music defines us, we also love to sing, as it is an effective way of elaborating on our music. The songs are Wira LautankAlam Yang Sirna, Kisah Si Anak Penyu and Pusaka.  The purely instrumental songs are Sungai Terengganu, where the xylophone is clearly heard, and Chahya Di Taman Suci wihc is warm and caressing.
While the songs are dedicated to the people of Terengganu, they are tributes to the beauty of nature and life. The vibrant and cutesy Kisah Si Anak Penyu speak of leatherback turtles scurrying along the beach to the sea.  But on deeper examination, it is a gentle reminder for parents to keep any eye on their children lest they fall prey to predators.
Wira Lautan may conjure images of brave Malay sialors from ancient Terengganu, but it is a tribute to the fishermen who risk their lives to feed Malaysians. "It creates the awareness of the sacrifices fishermen go through in their risky noble jobs".
Mohram's sound has been an all Malaysian one with Malay Chinese and Indian musical inf luences, this time it is predominantly Malay and Chinese, like the population of Terengganu.
This is the sound of Terengganu, reflecting its ethinc mix.  Kuala Terengganu has a very ancient Chinese village and the people there speak the distinctive Terengganu Malay dialect.
When we visited Terengganu we found ourselves closer to nature and we observed the close relationship and the environment, such as that between the fisherman and the sea.

Private Island in Terengganu for sale

http://www.google.com.my/search?q=private+island+in+terengganu+for+sale&rls=com.microsoft:ms:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLS_en&redir_esc=&ei=JHVTTdudAYbnrAfJrLn_Bw


This article first appeared in the New Straits Times on August 13, Saturday, 2005.

I think it has been bought by Datuk Michelle Yeoh's beau, the FI boss Jean Todt

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/new-straits-times/mi_8016/is_20050813/private-island-terengganu-sale/ai_n44303468/


.Private island in Terengganu for sale


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New Straits Times, Aug 13, 2005

A PRIVATE island located just seven minutes off the coast of Kuala Terengganu, which currently accommodates a resort and spa is being offered for sale by open tender at an indicative value of RM20 million. An 8.5-acre leasehold island with an unexpired term of about 66 years, Gem Island is currently owned and operated by the Gem Island Resort Sdn Bhd. The environment is relatively pristine, with the only development there featuring 45 brand new water villas, a wellness spa, restaurant, licensed bar, souvenir shop and a conference room lining the island's west coast and blending discretely into its natural settings.
"One of the most attractive facilities on the island is the seawaters wimming pool located on the waterfront, with the clear blue waters of the South China Sea rolling in," said Previndran Singhe, chief executive
officer of Zerin Properties, which is handling the tender exercise. With lush green forests as a backdrop, clear blue waters teeming with marine life which is ideal for snorkelling and diving, the island is truly a dream holiday destination, he said.
Another plus point is that Gem Island is located within Terengganu's Marine Conservation Park and part of it has been gazetted by the State as a turtle conservation sanctuary.

"There are very few private islands for sale in this part of the world, especially pristine properties.

This is a once-in-a-blue moon opportunity," Previndran said.

Interested parties so far include owners of boutique assets and high nett-worth individuals.
He noted that there has been great interest in the Southeast Asian tourism market of late. A major move recently was the purchase of the iconic 117-year-old Raffles Hotel in Singapore and the Raffles Holdings
network of 41 hotels in 35 countries by private United States- based equity firm Colony Capital LCC for RM3.8 billion.

"This is the very first time foreign funds have strongly come into the region's hospitality sector, underlining its strong tourism growth," Previndran said.

The tender opens on Monday and the closing date for bids is Sept 12.

Tender documents are available at RM100 per set from Zerin Properties at Level 1, Block D, Damansara Office Complex, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur (tel: 03-2092 2008).

Zerin Properties is a Malaysian-based international real estate agent focusing on the regional hospitality and commercial markets.

Copyright 2005

Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.

Nanyang Siang Pau Sdn Bhd.

Here I am in Terengganu waiting for the Menteri Besar's arrival. I won RM500 for my effort, but I gained a wealth of experience.

Chee Lian Yao from Nanyang Siang Pau newspaper interviews me because I am the only Chinese among a sea of Malays!

I do not know when it will appear...will have to email him! and he says it will only feature in the Terengganu edition of the Nanyang Siang Pau!

Chee Lian Yao

cheely@nanyang .com.my

terengganu@nanyang.com.my

Promoting Terengganu to the World

Since I am the only non-Malay blogger and my blog is in English, I have done my part well in promoting Terengganu to the world esp the United States as can be seen from the number of page views : 487!!

My blog has 487 views from United States!!!

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