By : Athi Veeranggan
Image : Net
The Penang Hindu Endowments Board has defended itself against allegations that it has become a political tool of the MIC and Gerakan in Penang and that it is acting beyond its powers.
K Kumaraendran rebutted the claim that political considerations have been the yardstick for the appointment of commissioners and committee- members, who manage the five temples in the state.
A commissioner and lawyer, he was commenting on a Malaysiakini report last Friday, in which United Hindu Religious Council president G Mugunthan had alleged there is rampant political meddling in the annual appointments.
Said Kumaraendran: "The board has never been a political tool of the ruling coalition. (Its) commissioners and temple management committee-members have always been appointed based on merit and (their) credentials, (not) political affiliation as alleged.
"They are all appointed by the state governor on the advice of the state government based on their track-record as persons of high esteem in the society.”
Hindu endowments belonging to the hilltop Waterfall Temple - Sri Balathandayuthabani Kovil - Sri Ramar Kovil in Dhoby Ghaut, Sri Kunj Bihari Krishan Mandir, Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil in Lebuh Queen and Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil in Butterworth are administered by the board.
Under the Hindu Endowment Ordinance, the state governor on the advice of the state executive council appoints a board of commissioners, one of whom must be a government officer.
The board then sets up an endowment management committee consisting of members of public professing the religion applicable to the endowments - in this case, Hinduism.
'Orderly festivals'
According to Mugunthan, political-based appointments of commissioners have become a norm since the 1980s.
Even the board chairperson is a politician, he said, referring to former MIC state chairpersons T Suppiah and K Rajapathy, and current state deputy chairperson PK Subbaiyah.
Over the years many MIC division leaders and prominent Gerakan Indian leaders have been appointed as commissioners.
Reliable sources had claimed that Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon has insisted on "his men from Gerakan" being appointed. Kumaraendran also refuted the allegation that the board had overstepped its jurisdiction.
The board is entrusted with managing the temples and their endowments and to organise their religious festivals, he noted.
In this respect, it has a legal obligation to ensure that religious festivals are celebrated in correct and orderly manner.
This involves implementing measures to regulate tanneer panthal (refreshment booths) and installing a centralised system to control the type of music played during Thaipusam each year.
"Various quarters have commended the board for its actions to bring more order into Hindu religious festivals," he added.
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