MIRI: A pair of the emperor’s dragon of the Sam Shuk Long Kong (or Hai Long Si) temple is finally completed after three years of construction.
“They are the biggest dragons in Malaysia so far with length of 139 feet (male dragon) and 129 feet for the female dragon,” said Minister for Transport Sarawak Datuk Sri Lee Kim Shin.
The two dragons were constructed out of one million small pieces of porcelain.
Lee disclosed that the Sarawak government through Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) had provided funding amounting to RM2.2 million to help the Taoist temple committee with the project. The total cost of construction and upgrading amounted to RM22 million.
He congratulated the temple committee for their dedication and commitment in upgrading and repairs to the temple which will be in time for them to receive the nine emperors god and imperial seal – an antique of more than a thousand years.
The temple has successfully bid for the hosting of the grand nine emperors god festival which will be held in 2025 at its premises in Krokop here.
“It will attract thousands of worshippers from various countries to visit the temple and to celebrate the festival as well as to view the ancient exhibit of the Imperial Seal of the emperor of the nine gods,” he said reporters after witnessing the unveiling of the two dragons on Tuesday.
He believed that the dragon couple at the front entrance to the temple building would become a new attraction in the city.
The design of the temple and the dragons are very similar with those in China, Lee said.
Meanwhile, the temple committee expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) for its inclusive policy in supporting the temple upgrade.
Also present during the event were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting, Miri Mayor cum Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii and Unifor director Datuk Jack Aman Luat
