UNDER the leadership of A. Tharman, the Malaysia Hindu Sangam Penang has been paving the way for a more inclusive, empowered, and culturally rooted Hindu community, one where women and youth are no longer just participants, but frontrunners.
Penang MHS chairman Tharman was proud to share that 70% of the state’s committee is now represented by women, a historic achievement that reflects the deep commitment to gender inclusion.
“Our women and youth divisions now prepare and present their independent reports, showing their growing confidence and autonomy.
“We have gone beyond just token involvement. This year, through vibrant partnerships with agencies such as the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), we have successfully hosted Ponggal celebrations, youth sports tournaments, and cultural showcases across the state.
“One of our flagship efforts, the Hindu Run, was created to engage our youth on the ground, combining fitness with cultural pride.
“And yes, we believe in blending tradition with innovation as we have even organised football matches where participants wear sarees and veshtis because anyone can play football, but how we play reflects our identity,” Tharman told Buletin Mutiara during an exclusive interview recently.
On the issue of education and cultural outreach, Tharman noted that it has also grown significantly.
Across Penang’s districts, Malaysia Hindu Sangam runs 40 active classes every year, ranging from Thirumurai studies (July–September) to annual traditional cooking classes.
Add to that cultural activities like kolattam, kabaddi, and our uniquely Penang-style Teppa Thiruvizha, where banana leaves are used to decorate the festivities.
“These efforts are not small in impact. Each year, over 39,600 students benefit from our cultural, religious, and educational programmes.
“We have even set up an Education Bureau that offers online SPM preparation classes for students three months before their major exams, ensuring that we don’t just preserve culture, but support academic success.
“We don’t do this alone. We work closely with state executive councillors, PWDC, Harmonico, inter-faith groups, JAKIM, and most notably, the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) because unity brings strength, and collaboration brings results,” he added.
Looking ahead, Tharman was thrilled to announce that with the support of state Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri Sundarajoo, the vision of MHS to build a culture and welfare operations centre is turning into reality.
“The land, owned by MBSP, will be leased to us for the development of what will be Penang’s first-ever green Hindu building.
“We expect a groundbreaking ceremony by October this year. The centre will not only host cultural programmes but also offer rental rooms to nearby factories, creating sustainable income to fund our initiatives.
“This is more than infrastructure, it is a legacy. With over 2,000 Hindu temples registered nationwide under Malaysia Hindu Sangam, we are preparing a platform that we proudly intend to pass on to the next generation,” he said.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis