A century-old statue of a Chinese deity which was stolen from a temple in Penang during a power blackout earlier this week has been returned, local media reported today.

Temple secretary Lim Eng Soon said he found the wooden statue placed near the temple's main entrance after receiving a call on his mobile phone from a man who informed him the deity was back at the temple.

"I thought I was dreaming... that it could have been a prank, but I am very happy the statue has been returned," Lim was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

The wooden statue of the Tua Peh Kong or the God of Prosperity was missing from the main altar in a temple in northern Penang state when power resumed after three hours after the blackout on Monday.

'Rightful owners'

The 10-inch idol is a major draw for merchants seeking blessings and is almost as old as the temple itself, which was built in 1890.

Lim had earlier appealed for the idol to be returned, warning it "may bring misfortune to those who are not its rightful owners."

Chinese, the second biggest ethnic group in Malaysia, account for the bulk of the population on the popular holiday destination of Penang.

Monday's power cut, the worst in seven years, plunged hundreds of thousands of homes and offices in five states into darkness for up to four hours and disrupted air and road traffic. - AFP