Penang Hindu Endowment Board in a mess

Let it be BN or PR ruling the state, I will still strongly suggest politicians should not be in the Endowment Board. The Board should do what is best for the community without fear or favor to anyone.

N.G.Senthelnathan

I would like to suggest The Penang Hindu Endowment Board divorce from its political associates before further ruin happens to the board. The internal conflicts between DAP leaders namely Dr Ramasamy (DCM II) and RNS Rayer (Adun Seri Delima) caused the temple’s Maha Kumbhashigam of Sri Balathandayuthapani hilltop temple to be held in a rush which will be on 29 June 2012.

This is because, Dr Ramasamy who is heading Endowment Board, wants the Maha Kumbhasigam to be held before the General Election, while he is still in power. The temple is yet to be completed, and many of the Endowment Board meetings have recently ended with confusion over this matter.

All this happens because politicians are leading the Board. I suggest religious entities should be completely independent. Those who have depth in the knowledge of Hinduism should lead the Endowment Board. I am not telling this because I am from the opposition party, but for the sake of Indians in Penang. Let it be BN or PR ruling the state, I will still strongly suggest politicians should not be in the Endowment Board. The Board should do what is best for the community without fear or favor to anyone.

This reminds me of PR leaders prior to 2008 general election, who criticized MIC heading the Endowment Board but today they (PR) have more than one state assembly chairman in the Board compared to MIC who had always maintained only one representative despite winning two seats. However, having politicians in the Endowment Board formula should end and be replaced with those who have indepth knowledge of the religion, for the sake of the community and temple institution.