GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: For the Hungry Ghosts festival this year, a temple here has prepared something special for the earthquake and cyclone victims of Sichuan, China and Myanmar - two luxury condominium towers.

The 5.5m-high paper effigy, along with other offerings, were burnt outside the Lebuhraya Jelutong temple yesterday in line with the Chinese belief that those in the afterlife would receive them.

"We wanted to do something special this year, so when the temple committee asked for a effigy design, I came up with a condo concept. This way, there is a lot of space for all the victims to have a home," said Teong Leng Keong temple secretary Ong Ooi Huan, 50.

"The earthquake and cyclone victims have been added to the list of people that temple devotees are praying for, so we hope this offering will do something to appease their souls," Ong said, adding that the effigy took two weeks to make.

A contractor by profession, Ong said he based the design on a super condominium on the island which has been dubbed Penang's "mini Petronas Twin Towers."

It took eight people to move the structure, which was built complete with a three-storey basement car park and swimming pool.

The bright blue effigy was then set alight alongside two 3m-high kim chua (joss-paper) structures created by visiting Thai devotees.

"Thai devotees have been invited to celebrate the Hungry Ghost festival at this temple annually for the last five years.

"It's great to visit the island and be able to help out in the celebration," said Thai national Lau Siew Mei, 55.