THE Arulmigu Sri Raja Kaliamman Temple, Malaysia's first glass temple, in Jalan Tebrau, Johor Baru, will not only be a boon to Hindu devotees but also be a major tourist attraction, Makkal Osai reported.

Temple chairman S. Sinnathamby said the temple was built for RM3mil (SGD1.2 million) and is the first glass temple of its kind in the world.

He said about 95% of the temple's walls, ceiling, domes and pillars were adorned with more than one million pieces of colourful glass imported from Thailand, Japan and Belgium.

He said that the glass pieces were carefully put together by nine Myanmar workers.

He said that motifs and symbols like the Swastika, Namam and Sri Chakra were created from the glass pieces in seven colours.

He added that the temple was built on land awarded by the Sultan of Johor in 1922 and it was renovated for the first time in 1996.

Sinnathamby said he first visualised the glass temple during a visit to Thailand and funds for the construction were raised through community programmes and public donations.

He said that the air-conditioned temple, which can accommodate about 1,500 devotees, would be officially opened on Oct 25.

He said that the temple committee would raise another RM1mil to upgrade the temple's infrastructure.

--The Star/ANN