GEORGE TOWN: Two months after the discovery of the remnants of the tomb of Foo Teng Nyong, principal wife of Kapitan Chung Keng Quee at the Jelutong landfill, a heritage advocate revealed that the pieces never left the dump site.
George Town Heritage Action co-founder Mark Lay, who first discovered the remnants at the landfill on Sept 8, said pieces of Foo's tomb, that is 138 years old, were merely transferred and dumped at another area of the site.
"This proves that the state authorities simply don't care about heritage conservation.
"The priceless and illegally demolished 1884 tomb, that was dumped at the landfill two month ago, was supposed to be safeguarded by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
"Instead, it still lies in putrid mud and other rubbish, and simply moved to a slightly different location within the dump site.
"What a tragic end to Penang's very own Taj Mahal dedicated to love," he told the New Straits Times.
On Sept 22, the MBPP confirmed that the landowner who illegally carried out the exhumation of Foo's gravesite would be hauled to court after it could not accept the explanation given for his action.
The landowner had applied for an exhumation permit, which was issued on March 18, this year, subject to set conditions.
Among which, the landowner had to alert the MBPP of the exhumation date 10 days prior to the work, which could not be carried out without the supervision of MBPP officers.
On Aug 28, the landowner failed to abide by the conditions in the permit and exhumation work was carried out without notifying the council and without the supervision of MBPP officers.
Subsequently, the MBPP issued a show cause letter and a non-compliance of exhumation permit notice to the landowner.
Foo's grave, dubbed "Penang's Taj Mahal", was designed and built in 1884 to show Chung's love for her. She died during childbirth at 33.
Besides being Chung's wife, Foo was also the mother of Chung Siew Yin, Kapitan Chung Thye Phin and Chung Thye Cheong, and the paternal aunt of Tin King of Malaya, Foo Choo Choon.
Chung (Keng Quee) had been the largest tin mine owner and employer in Malaya.
Meanwhile, Lay questioned the silence by the state authorities on any form of severe punishment being brought for this heritage crime.
"In particular, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has never once commented on the tomb demolition.
"Also, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin had previously said that the fact that the tomb was destroyed without approval was an unacceptable mistake…he has also gone totally silent on this matter," he added.
Lay has since written twice to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on the demolition of Foo's grave.