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  (Photo courtesy: Guang Ming Daily)

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SUNGAI PETANI, KEDAH: Changing the Green Dragon Crescent Blade into an AK47 rifle?

A restaurant owner in Sungai Petani here worships a “special” Guan Gong statue that wields a rifle instead of the legendary Green Dragon Crescent Blade (a traditional Chinese weapon). He hopes that Guan Gong can catch up with times and use advanced weapons to fight criminals.

It is not a joke, but a wishful thinking of 43-year-old Huang Xiuping. The 18-inch height Guan Gong statue in his restaurant was hand-made in China and it took Huang three months to get it delivered to him.

Guang Gong statues found in temples or private properties usually hold a Green Dragon Crescent Blade. However, Huang believed that old weapons is useless nowadays. Thus, he replaced the blade with a rifle so that it can exorcise evil spirits and bring good luck.

Huang said that when he was working in Singapore 20 years ago, he saw a similar Guan Gong statue. He never thought that he would do the same thing a few years later.

He said that he had been wondering which God to be worshipped since he moved his restaurant to the current location until he recalled the Guan Gong statue he saw in Singapore.

"I asked the owner of a religious goods store in Sungai Petani to order a Guang Gong statue holding a machine gun for me. I believe that the statue is the only one in Northern Malaysia. Everyone said that it is very rare," he said.

The 18-inch height wooden hand-carved Guan Gong statue dresses in a green robe and holds an AK47 machine gun. He stands with a serious expression and looked majestic.

Huang said that a lot of people from different places came to have a look at the Guang Gong statue holding a machine gun.

Huang also said that more and more high-technological weapons can be found nowadays and the traditional weapon used by Guan Gong is not able to fight modern weapons.

"Criminals are getting more and more rampant nowadays. Guan Gong also needs modern weapons to protect the people."

Guan Gong in Taiwan rides motorcycle

Huang also told Guang Ming Daily that he saw a Guan Gong statue riding on a motorcycle in Taiwan before and thus, he did not think it is rare to have a Guang Gong statue with a machine gun.

"When I received the statue from China, most of the masters refused to inaugurate the statue and one of them told me that there are advantages and disadvantages to worship such kind of “abnormal” statue. He asked me to get psychologically prepared,” said Huang.

He said that his restaurant has been blessed since he started to worship the "abnormal" Guan Gong statue.

“A robber came to my restaurant before but suddenly, he turned to the shop next door.

"Sometimes, I also get some unexpected wealth and the business of my restaurant is quite good. Although I'm not rich, I feel happy. I don't care what others say," he added. (Translated by YOU HSUEH LIN/ Guang Ming Daily)