By P Ramasamy
The Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) is not a mere administrative or religious body. It is a statutory body that manages and promotes not just the religious interests of the Hindus in Penang, but also their cultural and social interests.
In other words, the detractors of the PHEB or the Penang state government should not pin down the objectives of the PHEB to suit their narrow political interests.
Whatever one may say about the PHEB, it cannot be denied that the Hindu Board is for all Hindus, irrespective of their sub-communal or linguistic considerations.
The PHEB is definitely against the promotion of caste or sub-castes in the name of Hinduism or in the organisation of Hindu festivals.
If you examine the Ordinance closely, even Sikhs are considered Hindus.
While the MIC or Barisan Nasional (BN) did little to advance the religious, cultural and social interests of the Hindus/Indians through the efforts of the PHEB, the situation is different now.
It serves to protect the rights of Hindus in Penang by providing a shield for Hindu-based activities that are religious, cultural and social in nature.
PHEB has no intention to bring all the temples and their endowments under its umbrella in Penang.
Although Section 4 of the Hindu Endowments Ordinance empowers the PHEB to takeover and manage temples in the interest of the larger Hindu community, there was only one occasion when this clause was invoked.
In late 2015, the Perai Vinayagar temple came under the control of the PHEB after complaints were lodged against it by the local Hindu community and after the Registrar of Societies de-registered the association that managed the temple.
The MIC raised a hue and cry over this incident without understanding the management problems of the temple and why the earlier association was de-registered.
Although the ordinance has been in existence for 110 years, this particular clause was only invoked last year by PHEB.
Under BN or MIC in Penang, this ordinance was “dead.”
The PHEB will only step in to assist if there are requests from the Hindu public.
We are strong advocates of the proper, transparent and accountable management of temples.
The PHEB believes that proper management of temples will pave the way for temples to partake in the promotion of educational, social and cultural activities of the larger Hindu public.
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that it is the resilience of the Hindus that will protect and advance the interests of Hindus.
In Malaysia, in a multi-racial and multi-religious setting, there are a myriad of problems that are confronting Hindus and members of other faiths.
The issue of religious conversion to Islam has particularly alarmed Hindus and those belonging to faiths other than Islam.
The PHEB will condemn and oppose any attempts at forcible conversions, if they are ultra vires the Federal Constitution.
P Ramasamy is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
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