Taoist Federation aims to weed out unskilled tang ki
By
Yen Feng
Mr Jacky Tan (centre), a practising spirit medium for the last 20 years, in the midst of a session in a Jalan Besar flat on 12 September 2009. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE
THE Taoist Federation is taking steps to regulate spirit mediums here.
As early as next month, it will issue registration forms to the roughly 300 temples affiliated to it, so a register of mediums, or tang ki in Hokkien, can be set up.
Federation president Tan Thiam Lye told The Straits Times last week that this was the first in a series of steps to set apart those trained in channelling Chinese deities.
Registration is, however, voluntary for now. Down the road, licences may be issued.
More immediately, the federation will also produce a free manual to help devotees discern between skilled and unskilled mediums.
Saying the federation will take things 'one step at a time', he added: 'It is time for us to regulate them. We must not let the actions of a few bad apples lead to a misunderstanding of mediums and Taoism.'
Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.
