Malaysia Hindu Sangam

President’s speech delivered at the 33-rd Annual General Meeting of Malaysia Hindu Sangam held at Dewan Sri Maha Mariamman, Jalan Sungai Pari, Ipoh, on 25th July 2010.

Thiruchchitrambalam.

Dear YB Dato M Saravanan, Deputy Minister, Federal Territories & Urban Well-being And Vice President of MIC, Special Guests, Temple Committees, Members, Media reporters, Brothers& Sisters , Good morning and welcome to the 33-rd Annual General Meeting of Malaysia Hindu Sangam.

Sangam since its establishment on 23/1/1965, has served the Hindus in this country for 45 years.  It has gone through great challenges.  Past presidents namely, Sangaratna K Paramalingam, Sangaratna Selva Nadarajah, Sangaratna Tokoh Guru Dr.S.M Ponniah, Sangaratna S Govindaraj, Sithantha Selvar Aru Nagappan, Sangaratna Subramaniam, Datuk A Vaithilingam has been great leaders of Sangam.  Today, I stand in front of you as the 8-th President of Sangam and it is my honour to deliver my maiden speech in the first Annual General Meeting held under my leadership.

1. Malaysia Hindu Sangam records its appreciation to our 6th Prime Minister, Dato Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak for his efforts uplift the Indians in this country.  Our requests for grants have been approved by our PM. YB Dato Saravanan will announce it during his speech.  We take this opportunity to thank our Prime Minister for his generous contribution.
   
   
2. Apart from Poojas & Spiritual Festivals, temples should transform as community service centers.  Temples should play a major role in disseminating spiritual knowledge, provide youth empowerment programs and Thirumurai classes. For this purpose, Sangam is willing to provide Religious Teachers’ Training.  At present, a couple of temples are already serving as community service centres.  In 2 years time, all Hindu temples in Malaysia must transform as Service Centres.
   
   
3. Temple is a divine place.  As such discipline is important.  Sangam is preparing Guidelines for devotees on dressing, mobile phones, etc as well as guidelines for temple administration & management system.  Once the guidelines are available to temples, Sangam will ensure that the Do’s & Don’ts are enforced in all temples without any excuse.  I also wish to inform the temple authorities that, at the moment temple survey is being undertaken by Sangam.
   
   
4. Temples are advised not to conduct marriage ceremony without proper registration papers from the National Registration Department.  And conducting marriages by way of “Archanai” to minors is also against the law.   Sangam will not hesitate to take action against these temples which conduct such marriages.
   
   
5. Sangam has established pre-school project, “Hindu Vidhyalaaya” in 20 temples around the country.  With 46 trained teachers, a total number of 800 students have so far benefited through this project.  Sangam intends to have set-up another 10 more schools by this year.
   
   
6. Local & State councils are requested to increase the membership. Hindus at the age of 18 are encouraged to become members of MHS. Respective State councils to ensure that all temples are registered with MHS.  At the same time, I would like to remind all Hindus to register as voters once they have attained the age of 21.
   
   
7. Sangam is building a “Hindu school” in Tapah.  It should be ready in 2 years time, with full school facilities. Hindu scholars are currently working on the proper structured Hindu syllabus and Religious Text books for the school. At the same time, religious books & syllabus for National Service Hindu Classes and Hindu Prison inmates are also being prepared.
   
   
8. Sangam has taken the initiative to monitor & guide the Hindu prison inmates when they are released from prisons.  With the assistance from some philanthropists, a “half-way” home is built  in the North, where these discharged prisoners are given counseling, motivations, self realizations and also job opportunities.
   
   
9. Tamil Print media plays an important role.  I hereby request the media to highlight the positive news & success story of the Indian Society in the front dailies and not the negative issues such as vandalism, robbery, rape, etc.
   
   
10. Hindus are spending extravagancy on marriage ceremony & dinner receptions.  Many do not understand nor follow the fundamental meaning of customary marriages.  I request the parents of Hindu brides to advise their children on their choice of wearing modern gowns & attires during their wedding receptions.
    
    
11. Ministry of Housing & Local Government should built Hindu crematorium in every township;  And Funeral Ritual places for Hindus within the compound of all apartments;  I also request the government to build Funeral Ritual Places at riverbanks with proper facilities to conduct Hindu funeral rites. I am confident that our Minister will look into these requests.
    
    
12. Students are converted to Islam in colleges without the knowledge of their families.  Spouses convert their children to Islam without informing each other. Many have been affected by this unfair treatment. Sangam has raised these issues before and it is disappointing that till todate there has not been any laws to stop such acts.
    
    
13. Hindu’s are falling prey to false Guru.  Some Hindus respect and offer prayers to their “Guru”, but neglect their parents.  Sangam notes with disappointment over these Guru’s and their teachings.
    
    
14. Hindu students of secondary schools are not permitted to form “Hindu Student Society”.  Sangam will be meeting the authorities to resolve this issue.  And I wish to request all Hindu parents to monitor the studies & extra curriculum activities of their children as the government has announced that only students with 9A+ are eligble to government aid. As parents we need to guide our children.
    
    
15. Apart from Religious activities, Malaysia Hindu Sangam has expanded its services for the benefit of all Hindus, Hindu Temples and Hindu Organisations.
    
    
16. Unity among Indians is very important.  I wish to highlight here, that Dato Murugiah, instead of forming another new political party, has joined M.I.C and MIC has wholeheartedly welcomed him.  I appeal to all Political leaders, if the Hindus in this country encounter any problem, all Indian Political leaders should join hands to solve the problem. This is the strength of unity.
    
    
17. Last but not least, I conclude, with the co-operation & team work of Sangam members, assistance of Local & State Councils and continued support from the Government, in the next 5 years Malaysia Hindu Sangam will attain ISO standard.

Thank you once again to our Special Guest of Honour.
Thiruchitrambalam.