Here lies Francis Light... in darkness
Emily ChowPublished: Jun 26, 2009 6:50 AM | Updated: Jun 26, 2009 9:47 AM
The grave of Francis Light is undoubtedly a significant historical site not just for the residents of Penang but to the entire nation.
The grave of Francis Light is undoubtedly a significant historical site not just for the residents of Penang but to the entire nation.
Yet the Protestant Cemetery where the founder of Penang was laid to rest is currently in a state of despair.
Next to the Saint Francis Xavier Church, sits the oldest Christian cemetery in Penang where Lebuh Farquhar and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah meet.
It was declared a world heritage site by Unesco last year.
Dating back to 1794, Francis Light's grave is one of the oldest in the cemetery.
Other graves include those of Commodore Charles Grant, Governor of Penang William Petrie and Francis Light's business partner James Scott.
Citizen journalists Chan Lilian and Jimmy Leow visited the site recently. Their video depicted neglected graves, overgrown with unruly ferns and shrubs. Dead logs lying on the ground in abundance.
Leow commented that many trees in the cemetery were dead, thus posing a safety threat to visitors, as they could fall anytime.
He and Chan hoped that the Penang state government would do something to improve the condition of the cemetery.
"We are talking about people who died in the 1800s. It’s more than religion, it’s our roots and our history. We have to remember them for the deeds they have done," said Leow.
According to the two citizen journalists, Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) council member Loh-Lim Lin Lee informed them that the cemetery has been restored three times since 1993, but those efforts were in vain without regular maintenance.
Loh-Lim also mentioned that the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) officials were scheduled to visit the site soon to plan restoration works.
Click here to watch video
Video contributed by Malaysiakini-ICFJ citizen journalists Chan Lilian and Jimmy Leow.
Yet the Protestant Cemetery where the founder of Penang was laid to rest is currently in a state of despair.
Next to the Saint Francis Xavier Church, sits the oldest Christian cemetery in Penang where Lebuh Farquhar and Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah meet. It was declared a world heritage site by Unesco last year.
Dating back to 1794, Francis Light's grave is one of the oldest in the cemetery.
Other graves include those of Commodore Charles Grant, Governor of Penang William Petrie and Francis Light's business partner James Scott.
Citizen journalists Chan Lilian and Jimmy Leow visited the site recently. Their video depicted neglected graves, overgrown with unruly ferns and shrubs. Dead logs lying on the ground in abundance.
Leow commented that many trees in the cemetery were dead, thus posing a safety threat to visitors, as they could fall anytime.
He and Chan hoped that the Penang state government would do something to improve the condition of the cemetery.
"We are talking about people who died in the 1800s. It’s more than religion, it’s our roots and our history. We have to remember them for the deeds they have done," said Leow.
According to the two citizen journalists, Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) council member Loh-Lim Lin Lee informed them that the cemetery has been restored three times since 1993, but those efforts were in vain without regular maintenance.
Loh-Lim also mentioned that the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) officials were scheduled to visit the site soon to plan restoration works.
Click here to watch video
Video contributed by Malaysiakini-ICFJ citizen journalists Chan Lilian and Jimmy Leow.
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