MCA to probe into 138-year-old gravesite demolition; urging authorities to preserve Penang heritage

The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) is now calling for an investigation into the 138-year-old gravesite of Foo Teng Nyong, the third wife of Kapitan Chung Keng Quee, demolished earlier this week in Tanjung Bungah.

Saw Yee Fung, a party spokesperson, stated that the state government and the Penang Island City Council must investigate the entire process and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

“I urge the relevant authorities to learn from their mistakes and ensure that Penang’s heritage sites can still be visited and appreciated for generations to come,” she said today.

Despite her descendant’s pleas, the 138-year-old gravesite has been exhumed and demolished.

According to the Malay Mail, Foo and Chung’s great-grandson, Jeffery Seow, told the media that no one informed him of the exhumation and that he had no idea who gave the landowner permission to exhume the tomb.

Seow had sounded the alarm and appealed to the Penang Heritage Council and Penang heritage commissioner Rosli Nor to protect the site from demolition due to its historical significance.

“In the beginning, I was so alarmist and kept reminding how other sites had been destroyed secretly,” he said.

Foo, besides being Chung’s wife, 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.

Saw said Foo’s ancestral grave was destroyed by developers.