Perak Sikh insurer leaves assets to 3 gurdwaras

| Ipoh, Malaysia | 3 Aug 2015 | Asia Samachar |

In a rare act of devotion, a recently deceased Sikh insurance agency leader has left all his assets to three gurdwaras in the Malaysian state of Perak.

Kulwant Singh, who passed away on 11 Feb 2015 close to the age of 75 years, was born and raised in Batu Gajah and residing at Tanjung Tualang, both in Perak.

 He was unmarried and had no children.

In his will, he has donated 12 acres of agricultural land and bungalow plots to the two gurdwaras in Batu Gajah, Gurdwara Sahib  Indian Sikh Settlement and Gurdwara Jalan Gopeng Gurdwara; and also Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Ipoh.

The land and bungalow are estimated to be worth around RM750,000.

“The respective gurdwaras have welcomed this humble gift from a devotee of the Guru,” according to an email  from Kulwant’s nephew Harbinder Singh to Asia Samachar.

Kulwant Singh was described as a successful agency manager with Tokio Marine/Asia Life in Ipoh.

“He was a teacher, a mentor and a very active Rotarian who reached out to people in need – in his quiet, unassuming way.  He was also passionate about seeing socio-economic advancement of Punjabis/Sikhs in Malaysia and involved himself in the local political scene in his younger days,” said Harbinder, who is a former jathedar of Sikh Naujawan Sabha Malaysia (SNSM).

In a classic financial planner thinking, Kulwant had expressed his hope that these assets continue to provide the community with a regular source of income.

He was born the late Sohan Singh and late Sant Kaur. Sohan (born 1898), who came to settle in Batu Gajah around the age of 12, was a dairy farmer and rubber smallholder.