MELAKA: The DAP handed over the Save Bukit Cina Fund raised in 1984 to Cheng Hoon Teng Temple on Monday.

The sum of RM24,162 kept in a special account under DAP since 40 years ago has since snowballed to RM97,447.42.

DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke Siew Fook handed over a mock check of RM97,447.42 (with interests) to Cheng Hoon Teng Temple Standing Committee Chairman Lee Eng Cheow.

Also present at the handover ceremony were DAP Central Executive Committee Member Lim Hui Ying, Party Veteran Lim Kit Siang, Deputy Chairman Gobind Singh Deo, Chairman Lim Guan Eng, and Kota Melaka Member of Parliament Khoo Poay Tiong.

DAP started the Save Bukit Cina campaign in 1984 to oppose a plan to demolish Bukit Cina for a modern commercial complex, in a move to defend the historic and cultural monument representing not only the roots of early Chinese migrants in Malaysia but also the 500-year-old Sino-Malay cooperation.

The plan was later aborted, and DAP had wanted to hand over the fund raised on a one-person-one-dollar campaign, to Cheng Hoon Teng Temple.

However, the temple did not accept the fund and the sum was kept in a special account for 40 years.

As Cheng Hoon Teng has embarked on a Bukit Cina beautification plan, the fund is now handed over to the temple authorities.

Loke also allocated RM50,000 for the Bukit Cina beautification plan to be undertaken by the temple.

“By handing over the donation to the temple, this shows that DAP is transparent and prudent in managing public funds,” said Loke.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple has been maintaining the Bukit Cina cemetery with over 12,500 graves, according to the temple’s website.

Bukit Cina is believed to be the oldest and largest traditional Chinese cemetery outside China, according to the website.

Kapitans and early Chinese migrants were buried on the hill long before the hill was purchased from the Dutch government in 1685 by Kapitan Lee Wei King.

The land was subsequently donated to Cheng Hoon Teng Temple as a burial ground for the local Chinese community in Melaka.