Heritage activists have since described the building of the concrete structure at the historic Old Protestant Cemetery, on Northam Road here, as sacrilegious.
The mock grave’s headstone bore the inscription “Danny Song (1976.05.10-2018.08.01)”.
The cemetery saw its last burial in 1892 with subsequent burials being done at the Western Road Cemetery.
Penang Island City Council secretary Yew Tung Seang said the production company had written in to ask for permission.
“We then replied, saying it was okay to film, but only at the outer confines of the cemetery. We had no objections.
“After they were found to have built the fake tomb at the cemetery, we issued them a show-cause letter,” he said when contacted today.
The filming at the cemetery took place last Friday morning, with the mock grave constructed the day before. The mock grave was dismantled on Monday afternoon.
Heritage activists are outraged as the mock grave was built at the cemetery where Penang’s founder Sir Captain Francis Light is buried.
China Press reported that actress Charmaine Sheh and a film crew were spotted at the cemetery last Friday filming a movie there.
The 41-year-old Hong Kong soap star was seen wearing a trench coat and paying her “last respects” at the mock grave.
It is learnt the film crew arrived in Penang on June 20 and were shooting scenes mostly in Batu Ferringhi and other tourist areas in the state.
A source close to the film crew said the grave, made with bricks and cement, was “hollow”.
Danny’s grave ‘exhumed’ and cleared, says Penang heritage body