A Tiger God statue has gone missing from the Rochore Tua Pek Kong Temple along Balestier Road, and the temple is asking anyone with information to come forward. In a Facebook post on Sunday (7 Dec), the temple shared a screenshot of CCTV footage showing a man loitering near the altar late at night.
The statue was discovered displaced in the early hours of Saturday (6 Dec). The CCTV screenshot, timestamped 11.49pm on Friday (5 Dec), shows a white-haired man standing near the Tiger God altar with a bag in his left hand. The temple noted that the man had been lingering in the area for about 27 minutes, from 11.48pm to 12.15am.
Temple Appeals to the Public
The temple urged netizens to contact them directly if they recognize the person in the footage. They also asked anyone who may know the man to encourage him to return the statue. In a strong message to the culprit, the temple said he must “return the statue in its original condition immediately, or we will resort to legal action and press criminal charges.” The temple also reminded everyone that the Tiger God is a “revered deity belonging to the community,” and buying or selling the statue is not only disrespectful but also illegal.
History
Rochore Tua Pek Kong Temple, also called Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple, was founded in 1847 by Hokkien workers from a nearby sugar cane estate, according to Roots.sg. The temple underwent renovations in 1920 and 1928, and today it is under the trusteeship of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. The Tiger God statue had been at the temple for at least 30 years and was displayed outdoors for most of that time.
Temple staff were baffled by the theft, as this is the first time the statue has been taken. Following the incident, all remaining statues will be secured under lock and key at the end of each day. A police report has also been filed as authorities continue to investigate.
