Mr. Low was a leader of the Chinese Society for the wealthy in Singapore, whose call to action resulted in an active fundraiser which received tremendous response from the Chinese in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Chinese immigrants hoped to see a Chinese temple erected in Nanyang (the name of Singapore in those days) that will become a spiritual pillar for the Chinese community. The materials used in the construction were transported from China to Nanyang, one ship at a time. Craftsmen specialized in wood and stone engraving as well as masonry were called upon from the province of Fujian, China. For once, Chinese construction techniques were utilized beyond the borders of their origin.