Statutory endowments board can better manage Hindu affairs, says Ramasamy

 

Former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy said the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple dispute is an opportunity for the government to set up a statutory body.

PETALING JAYA: 

Urimai chairman P Ramasamy today suggested a statutory endowments board as a better option than an NGO-led regulatory body to not only oversee temple land and resolve disputes, but also manage overall Hindu religious affairs.

Ramasamy, who served as chairman of the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) for 13 years, pointed to PHEB as proof of the need for a statutory institution.

Established in 1906 under colonial legislation, PHEB operates under the jurisdiction of the Penang state government while remaining subject to federal audits and parliamentary oversight.

Ramasamy said this model should be expanded nationwide by forming a national Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) with state branches.

“Such a board would function as an official administrative body, overseeing Hindu endowments, temples, and related matters.

“Unlike the Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) or other Hindu NGOs, a statutory board would have the legal authority necessary to enforce regulations and manage disputes,” he said in a Facebook post.

The former Penang deputy chief minister also said that the British had introduced this system during the Madras Presidency in the 1920s, based on a similar model.

MHS had earlier proposed a regulatory body to oversee temple registrations and land matters, and to prevent disputes.

MHS, which represents the Hindu community in Malaysia, also expressed its willingness to lead such a body in collaboration with the government.

Amid the ongoing controversy on the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple in Kuala Lumpur, Ramasamy urged the government to seize the opportunity to consider establishing a statutory regulatory body for Hindu affairs.

He said previous appeals to the federal government for a Hindu Endowments Act, which would expand the board’s jurisdiction nationwide, had been ignored.

He said without political will, Hindu temples and endowment properties would remain vulnerable to legal uncertainties and potential land disputes.

“A national HEB would not only provide legal clarity and administrative oversight but also ensure that Hindu religious and community interests are protected and managed effectively.” - FMT