Kulai Ban San Temple's Debut Centennial Procession, Chronicles Kulai's Chinese Heritage

Steeped in over a century of history, Kulai’s Ban San Temple celebrated its grandest festival from 10 to 13 July 2025. For the first time, a sacred deity procession took centre stage, pulsating with electrifying energy.

Built in 1913, the temple is an iconic landmark deeply woven into the collective memory of Kulai. Organising Committee Chairman emphasised that this event is not just a religious observance but a pivotal milestone in chronicling Kulai's Chinese heritage.

Open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the four-day event featured a food street, glove puppet shows, singing competitions, ethnic dance performances, lion dances and other exciting activities.

Perpetual Memorial Park Kulai provided live coverage of the evening's highlights on 12 July — witness the grandest deity procession in Ban San Temple's history! Spanning seven kilometres and featuring 83 spectacular floats, this awe-inspiring procession is not to be missed!

This thousand-strong parade unites devotees from temples and organisations across the region. As the deities journeyed forth to bless the people, families tirelessly flocked to join the procession, eager to witness the magnificence that Kulai had not seen in decades. Households persevered throughout the entire route to the final destination, transforming the night into a crescendo of festivity — the later it got, the livelier it became!

Significantly, during its centennial celebrations, Ban San Temple secured a total allocation of RM248,500, expressly designated to elevate the temple to become Kulai's signature cultural attraction. This comprises RM128,500 from the Ministry of Housing and Local Government's special grants for non-Muslim places of worship, supplemented by RM100,000 from Member of Parliament Teo Nie Ching and RM20,000 from Senai State Assemblyman Wong Bor Yang.

Speaking at the festival, MP Teo emphasised that their support goes beyond mere financial assistance — it demonstrates their commitment to establishing Ban San Temple as a new iconic landmark for Kulai. They envisage the temple becoming the town's living postcard — a beacon that will showcase Kulai's unique identity to a wider audience. Ultimately, they anticipate that this temple festival will evolve into an annual signature event, held every July.

Also in attendance at the dinner were members of the temple committee, alongside Senai State Assemblyman Wong Bor Yang and Bukit Batu State Assemblyman Arthur Chiong Sen Sern.

Wong Bor Yang emphasised that Ban San Temple's recent deity procession was undoubtedly Kulai's biggest and most successful celebration in living memory. Having reached this centenary milestone, the temple is entering a new chapter in which it will thrive spiritually and become a real driver for education and charity work.

He pointed out its strategic advantages: Ban San Temple is located right in the heart of Kulai's town centre, next to the new train station and bus terminal. Once the KTM electric train service project is complete, the temple will attract tourists and investors, creating opportunities for local businesses. Additionally, this hundred-year-old landmark would be the perfect focal point for Johor's Visit Malaysia Year next year, showcasing the area as a must-see heritage destination.

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