THE RIBI (non-Islamic houses of worship) fund has aided 149 houses of worship amounting to nearly RM6 million.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the RIBI fund was set up in 2016.
“Seventy-six Chinese temples, 42 Indian temples, 22 churches and nine gurdwaras have benefitted from the fund.
“We have disbursed RM5,941,321.12 as of today (Oct 10).
“Developers who can’t allocate a space for RIBI due to the scarcity of land in their projects, must contribute towards the RIBI fund,” he told a press conference today.
Jagdeep said the RIBI fund still had a balance of RM3.1 million.
“The figure will not be static as it will grow when we collect the contribution from developers who could not allocate land for RIBI purposes; and the RIBI fund would reduce when we disburse it to assist RIBIs in Penang,” he added.
Jagdeep presented RM50,000 from the RIBI fund to Persatuan Penganut Dewa Tua Yee Peh (Tang Xi Dian) to assist its renovation works. The cost of the temple renovation was RM140,000.
“Eligible RIBIs that needed financial assistance to renovate or to build new RIBIs can apply for the RIBI fund.
“Each successful applicant can get up to RM50,000 aid from the RIBI fund,” Jagdeep said.
Also present were Paya Terubong assemblyman Yeoh Soon Hin and the temple chairman Datuk Chew Khoon Aik.
Visit the Town and Country Planning Department at Level 57, Komtar or log on to jpbd.penang.gov.my for more details on the RIBI fund.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Law Suun Ting