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The restoration committee faced a most challenging task. Its brief included three important aims -
to conduct a restoration meeting the highest international standards of conservation, to use
existing material finishes, and to retain all original functions and spaces.
Authenticity would be one of the cornerstones of the restoration. In essence, this meant the
integrity and significance of the 17th century edifice had to be retained in its true form.
The Temple is also bound, in theory, by not one but three sets of controls: the Federal Antiquities
Act 1976, the Malacca Preservation & Conservation of Cultural Heritage Enactment 1988, and
the Cheng Hoon Teng Ordinance 1949 incorporated in Parliament.
It must be noted that the restoration of Cheng Hoon Teng’s Main Temple building and the
Prayer Pavilion has seen the preservation of the original built form, materials, and style of the
architectural design, as well as the structural system. Also, where possible, traditional methods
of construction were used, the dedication of Malaysians assigned to the project enhanced
by the expertise of craftsmen and artisans from South China.
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