HUNDREDS of guests attended a fundraising dinner hosted by the management committee of Sri Mangala Nayagi Amman Temple tonight.
The temple committee chairman R. Arikrishnan said the objective of the fundraising dinner was to raise funds to build a multi-purpose hall at the 136-year-old temple that is located in Bukit Tengah.
“We need about RM1.5 million to construct the multi-purpose hall. We expect the capacity of the hall to accommodate between 800 and 1,000 people at any one time.
“Since we don’t have a multi-purpose hall at the temple yet, this is the right time to build it.
“This is important for the temple management committee as we can organise events such as religious activities and various community programmes to benefit the local Indian community, especially the youth there.
“As of now, we have managed to collect about RM200,000. And through the fundraising dinner tonight and a few other upcoming programmes to raise funds to build the hall, we are confident that we can start the construction work in July this year.
“We hope that we can have the multi-purpose hall ready by 2024,” Arikrishnan said in his speech before Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow officiated the fundraising dinner at The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya today.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy and Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) executive director Datuk M. Ramachandran.
Arikrishnan also hoped that more devotees and well-wishers would step forward to show their support for the construction of the multi-purpose hall.
“If the public want to donate, they can contact me at 012-8685400 or through PHEB as the temple is under the Board,” he added.
According to Chow, the state government through PHEB would provide the necessary fund to the Sri Mangala Nayagi Amman Temple soon.
“We are very open to such requests and of course, we are more than willing to help the temple through RIBI (non-Islamic houses of worship) fund to build their multi-purpose hall.
“The state government is committed to assisting all non-Islamic houses of worship in Penang.
“This is proven when we have contributed a total of RM8.691 million to 207 places of worship through the state’s RIBI fund between 2016 and 2021.
“In addition to that, since 2018, 134 non-Islamic houses of worship have received a total of 83.41 acres of land from the state government through various state agencies.
“This shows that the Penang government has always been and will continue to provide support and assistance to all non-Islamic houses of worship in the state,” he said.
Chow was also delighted to see many benefactors and well-wishers attending the fundraising dinner tonight.
“The Sri Mangala Nayagi Amman Temple is unquestionably an important religious centre for the Indian community in Bukit Tengah and the surrounding areas.
“Thus, I would like to request PHEB to bring about more changes to this temple that will benefit and meet the needs of the community.
“Of course, to create the necessary changes, we need the full support of the temple committee, well-wishers and the devotees.
“I call upon everyone to kindly contribute to ensuring that the newly-planned multi-purpose hall will come to fruition, and serve its religious and social purpose,” Chow concluded.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis