Open squabble a bad reflection on PHEB

A former Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) commissioner, who declined to be named, has called on the board and community leaders to stop their open squabble as it reflects woefully on the Hindu organisation’s ability to function as the main body to oversee temple matters.

This may force the DAP – led state government to appoint “outsiders” to manage the temples’ affairs if the warring factions cannot come and accept terms with how PHEB is managed now, said the former commissioner.

The former commissioner said that if there is no diplomacy and goodwill, the state may just need to appoint a community leader outside of Penang to manage PHEB.

“Perhaps DAP veteran and deputy minister in the prime minister’s department M. Kulasegaran or a community leader from Kuala Lumpur, can come over and head PHEB.”

“Would the Hindu Gods be pleased with how we are behaving. Squabbling over how to manage our places of worship and who is better and not. Is it because there is allegedly much funds in PHEB or is it just personality clashes. Enough. It is shameful.”

The ex – commissioner also urged former deputy chief minister II P. Ramasamy, who he claimed did an excellent job when at the helm of the board to “move on politically,” as he has quit DAP, the party who dominates the state government.

“He did a good job but he must move on, as politically he already does. He has made a point about PHEB and now it is up to his successor (RSN Rayer) to ensure the board is managed smoothly and lives up to its reputation as a caretaker of all Hindu temples.”

He also acknowledged that even in some states of India, there is disrupt over how Hindu temples are run with allegations that the donations earned from the devotees, find itself channeled to other religions.

“But we should not emulate what is wrong, right. Let us just focus on serving rather than quarrelling. “

The squabble began at the state DAP convention last month when a branch head questioned why Rayer was appointed to head PHEB, as his position as the Jelutong MP makes him a poor choice in view it is more parliamentary than a state post.

When Rayer responded, outlining his style of saving costs and that who heads PHEB was never an issue previously, especially when the chairman had no political posts, Ramasamy and another previous commissioner M Satees took offence.

Ramasamy has since formed a start – up party called Urimai (Rights party), after he was convinced that DAP has lost its original struggle as a socialist multi – racial party with Satees, a former Began Dalam assemblyman, as the interim secretary – general.

Memorandum

Urimai on Friday surrendered a memorandum to a representative of the chief minister’s office which its chairman Ramasamy called on Penang’s intervention to safeguard and further the board’s interests, as it remains the only statutory Hindu body in the country.

It also seeks clarity from Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow on recent terminations of certain PHEB employees and whether their reinstatement is possible.

It further pointed out that stopping meeting allowances for commissioners and eliminating the position of executive director, though it might save money, does not necessarily translate to increased revenue for the board from rentals or other sources.

It also questions the wisdom of spending large sums on a forensic audit, noting that an audit report had already been submitted to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commision (MACC) in June 2023.

Additionally, the memorandum underscores that the Auditor General’s Department conducts a mandatory audit of the PHEB each year.

The board, as the only statutory body serving Hindus under both federal and state government jurisdiction, must be protected to ensure the advancement of the social, economic, and cultural interests of the Hindu community.

It is unfortunate that, while PHEB has served as a model for the establishment of a similar board in Tamil Nadu, India, post-colonial Malaysia has yet to establish Hindu boards in other states.

Ramasamy urged that should new management take over the PHEB, the expansion of similar boards to other states must be considered.

Penang MIC chairman Datuk J. Dhinagaran, who is now a commissioner to reflect the national unity government of which his party is part of, courtesy of the Barisan Nasional coalition, had urged Ramasamy to focus on Urimai and stop finding fault with PHEB.

While he meant well, Dhinagaran found himself criticised by Satees, taking the disrepute in PHEB to another level, as Urimai now found itself battling MIC besides DAP.

There is also no response from state executive councillor Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo over online speculations that he has since resigned from PHEB.

Fellow PHEB commissioner Senator Dr A Lingeshwaran denied that Sundarajoo quit as there were no official letter.

Chow meanwhile could not be reached for comment.

Did Sundarajoo quit PHEB?