Activist decries 'vandalism' after historic gravestones turn up at dumpsite

Heritage activist Khoo Salma Nasution has decried “vandalism” after pieces of a historic gravesite that were demolished last week turned up at a landfill.

“Vandalism of the highest order! The tomb described as ‘Penang's Taj Mahal’ ended up as rubble in the Jelutong dump site,” she said of the remains of the 138-year-old tomb.

“As custodian of a World Heritage Site, is this how Penang, with its Unesco sites, treats its heritage? The remains of Madam Foo deposited at Batu Gantang, the carved stones of her grave in Jelutong dumpsite and, whither her precious jewellery?” Salma asked.

Khoo Salma Nasution

She said this in a Facebook post last night that included photos showing pieces of the carved gravestones lying on a landfill.

The grave was previously marked as the resting place of Foo Teng Nyong, who died at the age of 33 during childbirth in 1883.

She was the third wife of the 19th Century tin mining magnate Chung Keng Quee, who is widely credited as the founder and administrator of modern Taiping.

Activists lobbying for her tomb’s preservation noted its “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”.

Despite the lobbying efforts, Foo’s remains were exhumed and the tomb was demolished on Aug 29.

According to the Malay Mail, the gravesite was initially part of the Chung family burial plot at Mount Erskine, but the land where her grave was located is no longer under the Chung family.

The current landowner intends to develop the land and published a notice of exhumation for the tomb on Feb 16, the report said.

Foo and Chung’s great-grandson Jeffery Seow lobbied for the Penang Heritage Council and Penang Heritage commissioner Rosli Nor to protect the site.

The report said Rosli had emailed Seow on May 23 to assure him that the developer is putting the project on hold to consider the council’s proposal to retain the grave in situ as part of the green reserve of the project.

Despite this, the grave has been destroyed, reportedly without Seow’s knowledge or consent.

The New Straits Times reported that apartments would be built on the site. - Mkini