PRESIDENT’S SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE 34TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF MALAYSIA HINDU SANGAM HELD AT RASAH SRI MAHA MARIAMMAN TEMPLE HALL, JALAN RASAH, SEREMBAN ON 12TH JUNE 2011.
Thiruchitrambalam.
Dear Yang Berhormat Dato M.Saravanan, Deputy Minister, Federal Territories and Urban Well-being and Vice-President of MIC, Special Guests, Temple Committees, Members, Media representatives, brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome to the 34th Annual General Meeting of Malaysia Hindu Sangam.
Malaysia Hindu Sangam is 46 years old. Despite having had to face several challenges in its 46-year history, we must take pride that Sangam has grown into a strong organization. In addition, Malaysia Hindu Sangam is the largest representative body of all Hindus in the country today.
About 83% of Malaysian Indians are Hindus. However, a large number of them have not fully learned and understood Hinduism. Sangam’s activities and programmes are geared towards providing at least basic knowledge in Hinduism to our Malaysian Hindus. It is also important that this knowledge is simplified so that it can be meaningfully applied in their daily lives so that our community can become virtuous and dignified. We will also be able to provide leadership skills and guidance to our future generation.
Two years ago, with your great support I took up the responsibility of National President of Malaysia Hindu Sangam. As you are aware, with the support of the Central Council Members, I made some important changes to the administration of Sangam. All the changes were aimed at serving our Hindu society and our community to the best of our ability.
We acknowledge that our Honourable Prime Minister, Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, has shown special interest in the welfare of the Malaysian Indian community. We are confident that several development projects and programmes introduced by the Prime Minister would benefit Malaysian Indians. On behalf of Malaysia Hindu Sangam, I take this opportunity to put on record our heartfelt appreciation to the Prime Minsiter and all government agencies for their support towards our Sangam’s activities and prorgammes.
The ‘MyDaftar’ campaign was undertaken by the government early this year to assist and, to a large extent, resolve the numerous woes of Malaysian Indians faced with problems related to their I/C, B/C and citizenship matters. Malaysia Hindu Sangam requests the government to favourably consider the applications of all those who registered in the ‘MyDaftar’ campaign and resolve their issues without hassle.
As for the ‘Interlok’ novel issue, Malaysia Hindu Sangam had made its stand very clear from the beginning that ‘Interlok’ cannot be accepted and it should be fully withdrawn from the syllabus of SPM Malay literature. I wish to reiterate here again the stand of Malaysia Hindu Sangam that ‘Interlok’ is not suitable as literature for school students as it contains derogatory words, factual errors and unacceptable dialogues which have deeply hurt the sentiments of the Indian community and are without doubt detrimental to the racial unity in the country.
Realising that Malaysian Hindus have to be absorbed into the main stream development of the nation, Malaysia Hindu Sangam launched the Hindu Renaissance Action Plan (HRAP) in 2004. A main objective of HRAP is to develop Malaysia Hindu Sangam as an outstanding Hindu NGO in the country. As one of several follow-up actions of HRAP, a 3-day Strategic Planning Workshop was conducted by Sangam at the end of last year. It was agreed at the Workshop to consolidate all activities and programmes of Sangam under the following 5 major Key Result Areas (KRA):
i. Religion
ii. Temple
iii. Welfare
iv. Government, NGO and International Liaison
v. Organisation Development
The ultimate aim of these 5 KRAs or Divisions is to assist Malaysia Hindu Sangam successfully attain its Vision & Mission, i.e. to become the recognized apex Hindu body for Malaysians and to bring together and develop the interests of Hindu temples and organizations for the creation of outstanding Malaysian Hindus.
Religion
A main activity of the Religion Division is to ensure that 60% of the 1.7 million Hindus in the country are provided with basic Hinduism knowledge. We want to ensure that in the next four years at least one member in each Hindu family is trained to recite Thirumurai. The Religion Division is also working towards enhancement in the teaching of Hindu religious knowledge by properly qualified religious teachers.
Building plans for the Hindu Religious School to be built at the Sangam’s Jeganathar Ashram in Tapah, Perak is ready. Malaysia Hindu Sangam is preparing the syllabus for courses to be taught at the Hindu School with the assistance and coordination of the prestigious Annamalai University and Tamil Isai Mandram in Tamil Nadu, India. The syllabus will also cover distance-learning programme, jointly with these institutions. We are confident that the proposed Hindu School will bring significant benefits to the Hindu community.
Major activities of the Religion Division include training camps for religious teachers, religious classes for Hindu trainees at the National Service Camps, religious classes for Hindu prison inmates, seminars and conferences for the propagation of Hindu religion and culture – Thirukkural Maanadu, Panniru Thirumurai Maanadu, Thamizh Bakthi Ilakiya Maanadu, national level Thivya Prabantham, Thirupugazh and Thirumurai programmes, religious tours, Thirumurai Cultural Festival, Panchapuranam competitions etc.,
Temple
A major priority of the Temple Division is to draft and implement approved guidelines for the management of Hindu temples in the country by year 2015. The Temple Division is also working towards ensuring that all temples are legally registered and administered. The Division is also involved in resolving the issues faced by temples with regard to the recruitment and employment of priests, musicians, sculptors and religious workers.
The Hindu Vidyaalaya Community Preschool and the Hindu Temples Database Survey are also major activities of the Temple Division. Despite several problems and challenges, we have completed the Temples Database project successfully. Due to difficulties in obtaining reliable information, the data of some temples could not be included in the Survey. However, all our activities and programmes conducted for the Database project has created much awareness among temples to be included in the Survey.
About 2,260 temples are now registered in our Temples Database. This covers a large number of temples in all the 14 States in our country. The database can be accessed through its own website www.hindutemples.com.my
Malaysia Hindu Sangam has always stressed the need for our temples to not only function as places of worship but also serve the needs of our community by playing the role of effective community service centres. In line with this, the Hindu Vidyaalaya Community Preschools (HVCP) project which is now officially under the Sangam’s Temple Division has a total of 23 preschools. Our target is to increase this number to 50 within the next couple of years. With a view to improve the socio-economic status of our HVCP teachers, we have embarked on plans to provide them with the necessary training and skills and also remunerate them accordingly. All information about our HVCP can be obtained from its website www.hpp.org.my
Welfare
A top priority of our Welfare Division is to identify and resolve at least 50% of the social problems faced by the Hindu community in our country by the year 2015. The Welfare Division is actively involved in helping needy students improve quality and performance in their studies. Many of these service activities will be jointly organized with our temples and other Hindu NGOs.
Our Welfare Division is actively involved with family development and counseling groups, Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development in their child welfare and protection programmes.
The number of incidents involving suicide, loan sharks, running away from home, religious conversion, divorce, family disputes and violence are increasing in our society. Of late, people affected by these issues have sought guidance and counseling from Malaysia Hindu Sangam. We are seeing an increasing number of people seeking counseling services. This clearly shows that Malaysia Hindu Sangam is seen by people not only as an organization providing religious guidance but also community care services.
Government, NGOs and International Liaison
The main objective of this Division is to enhance relationship and networking with government agencies, non-government organizations and international Hindu organizations and effectively network with them to achieve due recognition of Sangam at national, state and local council levels by the year 2015.
In line with this, the Division has held dialogue sessions with several ministries such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture, Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, National Registration Department, National Unity Board and agencies involved in the education development services. We are also planning to hold joint service activities with Hindu organizations in many countries around the world. In this respect, we can note that the recently organized Panniru Thirumurai Conference at Universiti Malaya was jointly organized with local Hindu NGOs as well as with the Puthucheri Panniru Thirumurai Council in India.
In addition, we had speakers and delegates from other countries who participated in our Thirukkural Maanadu, and Bakthi Ilakiya Maanadu. This reflects that our Malaysia Hindu Sangam is accorded due recognition internationally.
Organisation Development
The topmost priority of the Organisation Development is for Malaysia Hindu Sangam to achieve the required ISO status at the national, state and local council levels. An important step towards achieving this target is to ensure that our Sangam is financially strong to meet its operational expenses and obligations. The ‘1Hindu 1Ringgit’ campaign launched by Malaysia Hindu Sangam is aimed at raising funds for the continued benefit of our welfare and community service activities.
All religions encourage donations for charitable causes. The funds donated by Hindus in our country will be utilized for the religious and welfare development activities of Hindus in Malaysia. The subscription quota received from our membership is not sufficient to cover expenses for our activities and programmes. More funds are required for the improvement of current programmes and to initiate new programmes.
Malaysia Hindu Sangam will target at least 30% of Hindus to subscribe to the ‘1Hindu 1Ringgit’ scheme to receive donation of RM12 per year at RM1 per month.
Hinduism is seen as the symbol of the Indian community in Malaysia as a large majority of Malaysian Indians are Hindus. We must note that, although as individuals, all our activities are reflections of our community. We are representatives of our religion – Hinduism. In our multi-racial and multi-religious environment, it is important to ensure that we do not act irresponsibly to avoid being teased or blamed for our actions. Our religion is rich in its history and strength. A search in the internet will show that Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world.
Dear Members, your support and cooperation is the basis for the success of our Sangam’s programmes and activities. Added to this is the consensus of our Central Council Members to ensure success of our activities. Your selfless contribution and sacrifices are commendable.
My request is for the continued development and improvement of our Hindu community in the country. Although we are in the Central Council, it is the feeling of unity, common vision and hard work which has enhanced the image of our Sangam. This must continue. It is certain that our success will bring significant changes and improvement to our Hindu community. We will ensure our success.
Your support and cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
