Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Wat Chetawan" in English language version.
it was reported that just before the consecration ceremony, on 26 June 1962, a 70-year-old Thai woman knelt before King Bhumibol and pledged her obeisance to the Thai monarch. The woman, known only as Madam Hia, had made the journey all the way from Bangkok to present a cheque of ฿20,000 to the Thai monarch at Wat Chetawan. Hia, a well known philanthropist in Thailand, had made numerous donations to temples back in her own country in the past and it was through King Bhumibol suggestion that she made the trip to Malaya and present her gift at the newly-built RM250,000 temple in Petaling Jaya.
The idea was put forward – by a Thai monk, Phra Kru Palat Vieng – in 1956, a proposal was submitted in 1957, and the subsequent year saw the Selangor state government allocating almost 1ha (2 acres) of land for the temple. Through donations, the temple grounds were extended to 1.8ha (4.5 acres) and additional structures were built. Today, apart from the (prayer and ordination hall), the temple complex consists of a meditation hall where a Sleeping Buddha resides, a bell tower to announce the commencement of ceremonies, the monks' (living quarters), the (a rest area), Brahma and the Kuan Yin pavilions and a columbarium. Two trees that are significant in Buddhist doctrine were also planted on the grounds – the bodhi tree, which is associated with providing shelter, and the sala tree, associated with the Buddha's birth and death. Designed by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand and built by Thai craftsmen and local builders, the Chetawan temple was opened by Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on 26 June 1962, with the raising of the (roof decoration). Before construction began, though, a fundraising rally was initiated and received widespread support not just from Buddhists, but also the Government of Malaya, which – through Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj – contributed a grant of RM100,000. A further RM45,000 was contributed by T. H. Tan (later Tan Sri), then secretary-general of the UMNO-MCA-MIC Alliance Party.
