GEORGE TOWN: The 119-year-old Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam is now standing tall, earning three entries in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The three entries are for the tallest pavilion at 89.23m, the tallest bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at 33.67m, and the tallest granite pillars at 42.24m.

Temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said the board would go a step further by getting the three-tiered roof pavilion listed as the tallest in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records soon.

He said that temple abbot Rev Seck Jit Heng would receive the certificates from the Malaysia Book of Records at 5.30pm today before a ceremony to light up more than 10,000 lanterns and 230,000 decorative bulbs for the Chinese New Year.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon are expected to witness the event.

Ooi also said that the representatives from the Malaysia Book of Records visited the temple last Sunday to witness an official survey that was carried out on the three structures.

The structures, he noted, were part of an overall development project of the temple costing a total of RM70mil.

“The feats are being recognised following the recent completion of the temple’s RM40mil octagonal pavilion,” Ooi told The Star in an interview here yesterday.

Ooi said that the pavilion was itself supported by 16 granite pillars and served as a canopy shelter for the bronze Kuan Yin statue.

He added that each pillar comprised 40 circular blocks of 45cm-thick granite and had a circumference of 2.1m, and its core filled with reinforced concrete.

In early December, more than 13,000 people had attended the consecration and opening of the pavilion.

Sunday February 7, 2010

The Star Online