Satwant Singh | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Asia Samachar | 7 April 2015
The Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) brought smiles and cheers to orphans and underprivileged children at the Gurpuri Foundation, donating RM20,000 and 70 hampers to the Sikh-run home in Ulu Klang, Selangor.
Bakti president Rosmah Mansor today presented a cheque on behalf of the association to Gurpuri coordinator and trustee Sukhdaiv Singh.
The Bakti team visited the home in conjunction with the upcoming Sikh festival Vaisakhi. Rosmah is the wife of Prime Minister Mohd Najib Razak.
The Bakti delegation were entertained with songs and the popular Punjabi traditional dance – Bhangra by the Gurpuri children before being treated to tea and Punjabi delicacies.
Sukhdaiv said the foundation was grateful to Bakti for the association’s donation to the home.
“We are very thankful to Bakti for their continuous support to Gurpuri as this is their 12th visit to Gurpuri,” he told Asia Samachar.
Established in 2000, Gurpuri has 70 orphans and underprivileged children under its care presently.
It is now embarking on a 17 acres integrated project for the underprivileged in Bentong, Pahang, that will house among others homes for senior citizens, special children, widows and a training centre.
The earthwork at the project site is 90 percent complete and awaiting the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities to start the first phase of the project.
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1. Balwant Singh Jakarta We in Jakarta Gurmat school can never forget Giani jis kindness and support for our fund raising mission.While oothers we branding me as ‘con man’,he stood fast and collected alot for ou mission.Thank you Giani Ji,you have a golden heart and Bhai Khanaya spirit.Gurfateh
2. Tarjit Singh Daswant to run Gupuri shd come from hard earn source (kirt dhee kamaee)
3. Jasmail Singh I do agree with you Tarjit. The lady has too many scandals attached to her. Hopefully none are true. Its not for me to judge this situation, Sukhdaiv should know better with all the gian. King Akbar visited the court of Guru Amar Das, he wanted to give land and money towards Guru Ka Langar. Apparently Guru Ji declined. I am not sure why he did that.
4. Jaz Pal totally agreed with veer Tarjit Singh and uncle Jasmail Singh
5. Hb SIngh: Gurpuri funding, I assume, has come from people of all walks of life. One source over the years has been BAKTI – the organisation set-up many years ago banding together the wives of Malaysian ministers and deputy ministers.
Veer Tarjit Singh suggests that the funds should come from kirt dee kamaae. That’s a laudable objective.
But is it wrong for Gurpuri to receive funding from this organisation?
Let us see where their funds come from. BAKTI website has this to say on funding: “Apart from receiving financial donations from corporate bodies and charitable individuals, BAKTI has also been organizing a wide variety of fund raising activities throughout the years.” I don’t find anything objectionable to that.
Now, on individuals helming the organisation. Veer Jasmail Singh singled out one person as being mired in scandals. That’s another story, immersed deep in politics. Our focus is on the Bakti donation to Gurpuri. Its a small amount, though, I’m sure, a welcome help to the orphanage. The money is coming from the organisation, not any particular individual.
Is it not ok to receive it? I think otherwise. Let’s not be so harsh on ourselves.
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