escape! Magazine – July 2019

middle
Fort Cornwallis is another landmark
left by the British

top right
The Goddess of Mercy Temple is
known colloquially as Kuan Yin Teng

bottom right
Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani
Temple is also known as the Hilltop
Temple

There seems to be new discoveries in Penang
every year. The charm and heritage looms
while new eateries, landmarks, and photo
spots emerge, making it the destination for
both first-time and returning tourists. The
Pearl of the Orient is so abundant with
attractions, chances are, there are some you
may not have even heard of! Let us show you
what Penang is, other than a food paradise.

A TESTAMENT TO RELIGIOUS
DIVERSITY
A theme or trail you can follow while
travelling in Penang is the places of worship
route. There are various symbolic sites
representative of Peninsular Malaysia’s main
religions, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism,
and Christianity. It is a land of spirituality and
it really shows.
Kek Lok Si is the household name when
it comes to temples of Chinese origins in
Penang, but the oldest Chinese temple of the
state is actually the Goddess of Mercy Temple.
Built in 1728 for the worship of Mazu, a
sea deity, the temple was transitioned into
a place dedicated to the Taoist Goddess of
Mercy, Guan Yin in 1824. It had miraculously

survived several attacks over the course of

time, leading to claims of magical and divine

qualities. Most famously, the temple remained

unscathed after the Imperial Japanese Army

bombed and invaded Penang in 1941. Today,

it is a focal point for many local Taoists,

especially during religious festivals and

celebrations like the Lunar New Year.

Further up along history, Indian traders

had come to George Town in the 19th

century. Indian Penangites are known as

Chulias. Cauder Mohudeen Merican was

a leader of the Chulias and a Muslim who

founded the Kapitan Keling Mosque. The

building is unique in design compared to

other mosques in the country, looking more

Indo-Moorish, rather than the traditional Malay

Islamic. However, the current design was

only established in 1930 after the mosque was

enlarged and renovated over the years.

As an ode to religious diversity, a few

blocks from the temple and the mosque lies

the oldest purpose built Anglican church in

South East Asia, St. George’s Church. The

church was established in the 19th century

by the East India Company who brought in

convict labour to complete the project. The

elegant building was designed by military

engineer Captain Robert Smith, who was

also a painter. You can see some of his oil

paintings on display at the Penang State

Museum. Unlike the Goddess of Mercy

Temple, the church was not quite lucky

during Japanese raids. It was badly damaged

and looted during World War II and the only

original artifacts left are the Bishop’s chair and

the Baptism Front. That doesn’t take away

TEXT: HOI MUN YEE / IMAGES: 123RF