Highlighting Chinese temples' role in KL history
Century-old Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur are not only testament to the history, culture and faith of the people in the area, but also witnesses to the ever-changing landscape of the city.

Kuala Lumpur’s first and oldest Chinese temple, Sin Sze Si Ya Temple in Jalan Tun HS Lee, stands as a monument to the city’s history.

Its story is intertwined with Yap Ah Loy’s, who was the third Kapitan Cina and played a pivotal role in the Selangor Civil War (1866-1873) as well as the birth of Kuala Lumpur.

Hoi Lam (left) and Wee Ting looking at panoramic views of Kuala Lumpur from 1894 to 2023.

Such significant stories of the past, if not documented, preserved and passed down to the next generation, will be forever lost in time.

With that in mind, the 160-year-old temple’s board of trustees decided to set up a Pioneers of Kuala Lumpur Museum.

From idea to fruition

Trustee president and museum chairman Datuk Hew Wee Ting said it had always been his dream to build a museum as a tribute to the city.

The sacred sedan chairs on display at the museum.

“I first mooted the museum idea in 1989, which is also detailed in our 125th anniversary commemorative magazine,” he said.

In 2017, the board of trustees passed a resolution to bring the idea to fruition and Wee Ting was appointed the museum’s chairman.

Trustee member Datuk Hew Hoi Lam said construction started in 2019 but the project was delayed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

Lim introducing the different sections of the museum.

“The museum finally opened its doors to the public on March 5 last year,” he said.

The city’s oldest Taoist temple has an archive filled with significant items from the past.

On display at the museum are artefacts that have been accumulated over the years by the temple, Wee Ting said.

“It also pays tribute to the role and achievements of early pioneers in the development of Kuala Lumpur and the establishment of the temple.

Headgear used by Yap Ah Loy along with drawings of him.

“The temple was undoubtedly the starting point of Kuala Lumpur.

“In 1875, Yap Ah Loy donated a plot of land and founded the Sin Sze Si Ya Temple with the help of local residents.

“As development took place, the city’s population grew and Chinatown started to develop,” he added.

Hoi Lam said in the early days, the temple was known as the city’s protector and locals were devoted to the deities (see graphic).

“The temple is closely related to the history of Chinese pioneers and Kapitan Cina of Kuala Lumpur.

The interior of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple in Kuala Lumpur.

“Back then, processions would be held every seven years to confer blessings upon believers and shops would be closed on the day of the procession.

“However, in 1963, the temple was ordered to cease holding the processions and celebrations were held on the temple grounds,” he said.

Currently, there are 32 temples in which Sin Sze Si Ya is the main or secondary deity in Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor.

In 2020, Sin Sze Si Ya Temple in Kuala Lumpur became the first Chinese temple in Malaysia to be gazetted as a heritage site by the National Heritage Department.

Peek into history

Located next to the temple, the museum has two primary collections – the early development of Kuala Lumpur and the role of Chinese pioneers in the history of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple.

A research team was tasked with conducting a comprehensive study on the city’s pioneers and the contributions of the forefathers who had set up the temple.

In the process, the team led by Prof Datuk Dr Danny Wong Tze Ken from Universiti Malaya’s History Department, also looked into the temple’s relationship with the city.

Newspaper clippings on the temple and old temple items, including drawings and tools, are among the items showcased at the museum.

An exhibit next to the stairs leading to the first floor tells the history of the birth of Kuala Lumpur with a detailed timeline of events and introduces popular personalities of the period.

“Visitors will see miniature models of houses at the old market or Medan Pasar that recreate a scene from the 1870s.

“It includes Yap Ah Loy’s house and a shrine that he set up for Seng Meng Lee, the first Kapitan Cina of Sungai Ujong.

“Visitors can also check out the temple’s history, photos of past events like the processions the temple held as well as old medicine slips prescribed by the temple.

“Another section displays Yap Ah Loy’s history, his paintings, Manchurian robes that he wore as well as other replicas of his possessions,” said museum curator Lim Ken.

Other sections detail the appointment of temple trustees and showcase a range of interesting artefacts.

The two “sacred sedan chairs” made in 1893 for the Sin Sze Si Ya deities and used during temple processions are also on display.

Another fascinating find is the five sacrificial utensils that hold offerings for Chinese rituals.

The set consists of an incense burner, a pair of candlesticks and a pair of vases made by Chop Yu He Kuala Lumpur (now Royal Selangor pewter).

The Pioneers of Kuala Lumpur Museum in Jalan Tun HS Lee is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

Ticket prices are RM10 per adult while those above 60 and persons with disability pay RM5 per ticket. Students are charged RM2 to enter.

Medical prescription slips that were used by the Sungai Besi temple.

Tour guides with a Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) licence, children below six and students on a school trip enjoy free admission.

Sungai Besi history

In Pekan Sungai Besi, the management of Sin Sze Si Ya Temple there is also setting up a mini museum.

Persatuan Penganut Dewa Sien See Sze Ya chairman Chen Chuow Khiew said the temple has a rich history as it played a part in the transformation of Pekan Sungai Besi.

Chen showing an old calender used by the Sungai Besi temple.

“The temple was established in 1901 in Sungai Besi Old Town, previously known as Gong Jiao Yuan, but was moved to Pekan Sungai Besi in 1937.

“There are artefacts in the form of photographs, statues and divination slips that were used during its early years.

“The temple is planning to convert two unused rooms into a mini museum.

“We want visitors to our temple to know about our history and we hope that through these museums, we can tell and preserve the stories of yesteryear for the younger generation,” he said, adding that those who come to pray could also take time to visit the museum.

Trays used during the tin mining days will be some of the items put on display at the Pekan Sungai Besi museum.

Chen added that one of the rooms would feature the temple’s history while the other would showcase artefacts and antiques that were used in the temple or found in Pekan Sungai Besi.

For the latter, Chen said it would include old items such as a charcoal iron, metal and wooden trays used during the tin mining days in Pekan Sungai Besi as well as prescription slips that were issued to temple devotees seeking treatment.

“Back in the day, there were no clinics around and people would pray and seek treatment from temples.

The museum also showcases a layout of the temple and details the different sections.

“Local healers would prescribe medicine through medical slips so that devotees can buy the medicine from a Chinese medical hall,” he said.

According to Chen, the association is in the midst of talking to a designer to plan for a 3D graphics to tell the story of the temple.

“We want to show some old photographs and history of the temple in the form of a story board.

“It will explain that the temple was set up for tin miners to pray for their safety at work.

“However, we could not trace the history back to the founders of the temple,” he said.

Chen hopes to fill the mini museum and get the rooms ready by July or August.

“We have the material but we are waiting for the furnishings and design.

“The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year,” he said.
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Century-old Chinese temples in Kuala Lumpur are not only testament to the history, culture and faith of the people in the area, but also witnesses to the ever-changing landscape of the city.