GEORGE TOWN: George Town Heritage Action (GTHA) has written to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on the demolition of the 138-year-old grave of Foo Teng Nyong, the third wife of Kapitan Chung Keng Quee.
The grave, dubbed "Penang's Taj Mahal", was designed and built in 1884 to show Chung's love for Foo, who died in childbirth at 33.
In the email signed by GTHA co-founders Mark Lay and Joann Khaw to Unesco, the heritage non-governmental organisation (NGO) said it was saddened by the illegal demolition of Foo's tomb.
"We write with tragic news that the 1884-built tomb of Madam Foo Teng Nyong has been illegally demolished in Penang, Malaysia. We heritage NGOs are all deeply saddened by the news, and have heard from our Penang Heritage Commissioner (Rosli Nor) that it is very unlikely Penang Council will punish the land owner, who has the intention to build apartments on the site.
"The Madam Foo Teng Nyong tomb was well known throughout Southeast (SE) Asia as Penang's very own Taj Mahal, designed and built by devoted husband Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Quee, pioneer of Malaya, for his beloved wife Madam Foo, who died during childbirth in 1883.
"The actual 1884 tomb was built in the Cantonese style, unique to Penang, Malaysia and SE Asia, with its Anglo-Chinese East Meets West non-turtle-back design, internal stone crypt, crafted stone masonry and unique carved panelling," the letter read.
Enclosed with the letter was a link to a newspaper article on the tomb demolition, together with photos of the tomb and its recent demolition.
Unesco declared George Town a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008, in recognition of the city's rich cultural heritage.
Yesterday, Lay questioned the Penang government's continued silence on whether it would severely punish a landowner for demolishing the tomb.
Foo, besides being Keng Quee's wife, was also the mother of Chung Siew Yin, Kapitan Chung Thye Phin and Chung Thye Cheong, as well as the paternal aunt of the "Tin King of Malaya", Foo Choo Choon.
Keng Quee had been the owner of the biggest tin mine and largest employer in Malaya.
Lay had also claimed that the nearby tombs of Thye Phin and his wife, Khoo Joo Bee, were now "sitting ducks" to redevelopment.
He said the entrance to Thye Phin's and Khoo's graves had been boarded up.
Foo's grave was recently demolished despite assurances by the Penang Heritage Council and Rosli that nothing would happen to the grave.
The landowner had been asked to preserve the grave as part of its green belt and was required to seek permission before conducting any work on the site.
Despite the assurances, the grave was exhumed and demolished, much to the disappointment of Foo's great grandson, Jeffery Seow, who wanted the state authorities to compel the landowner to restore the grave.
Seow had previously warned that the grave would be "destroyed without notice".
He had also said that the Penang government, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Heritage Commission must compel the land owner to restore the grave to its original design and location within six months, failing which a fine of RM50,000 will be incurred and a further fine of RM500 per day until the grave is restored.