A century-old statue of a Chinese deity was stolen from a temple during Monday's power blackout which hit five states, reports said today.

The wooden statue of the Tua Peh Kong or the God of Prosperity was missing from the main altar in a temple in Penang when power resumed after three hours, the afternoon Malay Mail said.

The 10-inch idol is a major draw for merchants seeking blessings and is almost as old as the temple itself, which was built in 1890.

Misfortune

The New Straits Times said temple secretary Lim Eng Soon has lodged a complaint with police and appealed for the idol to be returned, warning it "may bring misfortune to those who are not its rightful owners."

Chinese, the second biggest ethnic group in Malaysia, account for the bulk of population on the popular holiday destination of Penang.

Monday's power cut, the worst in seven years, plunged hundreds of thousands of homes and offices in five states into darkness for up to four hours and disrupted air and road traffic.

National power firm Tenaga is investigating the cause of the embarrasing blackout. - AFP