Ex-Penang rep accuses deputy minister of misleading Parliament on Hindu boards

 Satees Muniandy, who is Urimai secretary, says Hindu endowments fall under the Federal List of the Ninth Schedule to the Federal Constitution.

Satees Muniandy said deputy minister R Yuneswaran was wrong to say that Hindu endowments boards must be set up at the state level.

PETALING JAYA:

 A former Penang assemblyman has accused deputy national unity minister R Yuneswaran of misleading Parliament when he said Hindu endowments boards must be established at the state level, in line with constitutional provisions.

Satees Muniandy, who is Urimai secretary, said Hindu endowments fell under the Federal List of the Ninth Schedule to the Federal Constitution.

“Item 15(c) of the Federal List clearly stipulates that Hindu endowments are under the purview of the federal government. This is not ambiguous. The constitutional position is clear.

“It is deeply concerning that a deputy minister could provide inaccurate constitutional information in the Dewan Negara,” he said in a statement.

He stressed that Parliament required accuracy and that the public deserved honesty.

Item 15(c) of the Federal List states that matters involving charities and charitable institutions, charitable trusts and trustees (excluding wakaf), as well as Hindu endowments fall under Putrajaya’s purview.

Yuneswaran earlier today said that religious affairs fell under the jurisdiction of states, as set out in the constitution’s State List under the Ninth Schedule, when explaining why Hindu endowments boards must be established at the state level.

He also said the ministry would fully support states in establishing their own Hindu endowments boards, as implemented in Penang.

He was responding to a proposal by Senator Dr RA Lingeshwaran for a national-level Hindu endowments board to regulate issues related to temples.

Urimai chairman P Ramasamy in a separate statement pointed out that the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) was a federal body administered by the state.

“The Penang state administers the PHEB but accounts are submitted to the Parliament,” he added.

Ramasamy, who chaired the PHEB from 2010 to 2023, stated that any Hindu endowments board – whether established at the national or state level to manage temple affairs – must be granted statutory agency status with enforcement powers.

“Attempts at centralising the Hindu religion might work to the disadvantage of the Hindu community. However, the Hindu endowments board can function on behalf of Hindu temples in terms of legalising them and administering them.” - FMT