The New Paper
Sunday, Sep 16, 2012
THE crowd has been overwhelming ever since a 5.5m-tall statue was unveiled last week at the God of Wealth Temple in Paya Terubong in Penang.
The statue is believed to be the tallest in the Malaysian state. But visitors to the temple are not here for the view, instead they are thronging there seeking four-digit lottery numbers.
Finding it difficult to cope with demand, the temple committee decided to go high-tech.
They installed special electronic equipment which issue four-digit numbers, Malaysia's The Star reported.
Temple chief Cheong Wai Phoe, 67, said the computerised system was installed after many devotees sought four-digit numbers from the deity.
Said Mr Cheong: "We decided to set up the system beneath the statue. After praying, devotees can get the numbers themselves by pressing a button. The numbers will appear on the digital display screen."
The statue is adorned with a bright red robe and a gold ingot in both hands.
Mr Cheong said the committee took 10 years to raise the RM300,000 (S$120,000) to build the statue.
Mr Cheong, a fortune teller and medium, said he happened to "know" the deity by chance 35 years ago.
"But the deity discouraged gambling as it is a bad habit," he claimed.
He told The Star: "The deity has helped me through the ups and downs in my life. "He will help devotees who work hard to further their career, but not through gambling."
Among those who visited the temple was MrJacklyn Thum, 46, a Penangite who was there with some colleagues.
She said: "We decided to pay homage and pray for blessings after reading about the statue in the newspapers.
"All of us asked for numbers and we hope we can strike it big."
It is not known if anybody has been blessed with riches yet.
The temple opens daily and admission is free.
Sunday, Sep 16, 2012
THE crowd has been overwhelming ever since a 5.5m-tall statue was unveiled last week at the God of Wealth Temple in Paya Terubong in Penang.
The statue is believed to be the tallest in the Malaysian state. But visitors to the temple are not here for the view, instead they are thronging there seeking four-digit lottery numbers.
Finding it difficult to cope with demand, the temple committee decided to go high-tech.
They installed special electronic equipment which issue four-digit numbers, Malaysia's The Star reported.
Temple chief Cheong Wai Phoe, 67, said the computerised system was installed after many devotees sought four-digit numbers from the deity.
Said Mr Cheong: "We decided to set up the system beneath the statue. After praying, devotees can get the numbers themselves by pressing a button. The numbers will appear on the digital display screen."
The statue is adorned with a bright red robe and a gold ingot in both hands.
Mr Cheong said the committee took 10 years to raise the RM300,000 (S$120,000) to build the statue.
Mr Cheong, a fortune teller and medium, said he happened to "know" the deity by chance 35 years ago.
"But the deity discouraged gambling as it is a bad habit," he claimed.
He told The Star: "The deity has helped me through the ups and downs in my life. "He will help devotees who work hard to further their career, but not through gambling."
Among those who visited the temple was MrJacklyn Thum, 46, a Penangite who was there with some colleagues.
She said: "We decided to pay homage and pray for blessings after reading about the statue in the newspapers.
"All of us asked for numbers and we hope we can strike it big."
It is not known if anybody has been blessed with riches yet.
The temple opens daily and admission is free.
