The Datuk Gong statue at Mahsan Datuk Gong Temple was recently vandalized for the fifth time by the same individual, who, when confronted, claimed he was “possessed by a spirit and had no control over his actions.”
Lau Kim Fat, chairman of the temple’s board of directors, said the temple reported the incident to the police yesterday and has handed the case over to the judicial system, hoping for a fair court ruling to bring closure to the matter.
After experiencing repeated acts of vandalism, the temple had installed a CCTV system last year to deter such behavior. However, during the fourth incident, the system malfunctioned and failed to capture the act.
“After the system was restored this year, it recorded the full sequence of the latest vandalism for the first time,” Lau said. The incident occurred around midnight on Sunday, and the footage later circulated online, drawing public attention.
The board promptly reported the case to authorities after reviewing the CCTV footage, urging the public to remain rational and not exaggerate the incident to avoid unnecessary speculation and misunderstanding.
Lau revealed that the suspect admitted to the temple that he had committed all previous vandalism incidents and explained that the latest act was due to being “possessed by a spirit.”
Regardless of the explanation, the temple will respect the police investigation and judicial decision, hoping the matter is resolved legally and peacefully. Lau also called on the public to respect religious sites and maintain harmony within the community.
CCTV footage shows a Chinese man entering the temple in the early hours, opening the iron gate of the shrine, kicking over offering cups, lifting the Datuk Gong statue, and throwing it onto the floor, all of which was fully captured on camera.
