Sunday May 30, 2010
Snake Temple 'rebirth' on NatGeo
By MANJIT KAUR
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GEORGE TOWN: The restoration of the Snake Temple in Sungai Tiram here will go international when a documentary on it is aired on the National Geographic channel, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said that Beach House Pictures from Singapore which had been in Penang last weekend to do the filming of the restoration would provide the content to National Geographic.

He said the documentary is expected to be aired at the end of the year or early next year.


Grand event: A drum performance marking the opening
of the restoration of the Snake Temple in Penang yesterday.

"Millions watch National Geographic worldwide, and the temple will make Penang even more famous," he told reporters after witnessing the celebration for the completion of restoration work here yesterday.

Lim said the restoration costing RM1.3mil was carried out over three years.

"Heritage is something that gives us a sense of place and tells us about who we are and how our society has developed over time.

"People might not see a lot of changes, but that is what we call heritage restoration. If changes are seen, then that is not heritage restoration," he added.

Hokkien Kongsi chairman Datuk Lim Eng Soon said the restoration was completed last year.

"We wanted to conduct the opening ceremony then, but the date was not auspicious so the ceremony was brought forward.

"Today's date is auspicious to the temple's deity 'Cheng Chooi Chor Soo' or better known in Hokkien as 'Chor Soo Kong'," he added.