GEORGE TOWN – The majestic Kek Lok Si Temple celebrated its 130th anniversary with the formal opening of a charitable hospital named after it.
The temple was built by Venerable Beow Lean, an immigrant Chinese Buddhist together with other monks and Buddhist community leaders in 1891. It is billed as among the largest of its kind in the region.
Kek Lok Si has now become a household landmark for Penang.
Nestled beneath of Penang Hill range, the temple is also a grand attraction. During the Lunar New Year, thousands of lanterns adorned its facility here.
Yesterday, to mark the occasion, former health ministers Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam spoke of how the temple's Chief Abbot Venerable Jit Heng had spent time persuading the Federal Government to approve the commission of a charity hospital.
Subramaniam was represented by Datuk Selva Mookiah, the former MIC legal adviser. Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali was also in attendance.
Each took turns to address a packed house of dignitaries, who came to mark both the temple's 130th anniversary and the formal opening of the charitable hospital.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow also told the audience how grateful the state is to have a charitable hospital, as it can alleviate the treatment needs of the people here.
Venerable Jit said that the temple has writings of an Empress from China, and it is renowned for its social services to the public.
Hence, it was logical to have a charity hospital, whose mission is to save lives.
"Hopefully by offering free medical services to the poor, we can alleviate their sufferings. One of the main sufferings in this world is the unbearable misery of illnesses. We hope we can ease the sufferings," said Venerable Jit.
The Consul-General of China in Penang, Lu Shiwei, also addressed the crowd here.
Among the distinguishable features of the sprawling Kek Lok Si complex, are monasteries, prayer halls, temples, statues, gardens and a fish/turtle pond.
The temple is among the very few similar places where both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism are practised along with a harmonious blend of Chinese culture.
It has a seven-storey pagoda with 10,000 alabaster and bronze statues of Buddha. The pagoda is called the Rama VI because King Rama VI of the Siamese Kingdom is said to have laid a foundation for the structure.
The temple also has a tall bronze statue of Guanyin or Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy.
The architectural design of Kek Lok Si temple draws inspiration from different countries, namely Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam.
There are many Buddhist temples but the Kek Lok Si is arguably the most famous as it attracts thousands of people annually from all over the world.
Organising chairman Datuk Seri Steven Ooi Teik Heng said that it was a dual celebration for the Buddhists in Penang with the opening of the hospital, too.
The hospital's chief operating officer Dr Thor Teong Gee said that it has 50 beds. Its facilities include an x-ray room, a CAT scan, intensive care units, operating theatres, dialysis centre and admission wards. – The Vibes, December 23, 2021.
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