| Subang, Malaysia | 8 Aug 2016 | Asia Samachar |
There is a sense of apprehension when you talk to Subang Sikhs about their up-coming four storey building that will house the Gurdwara Sahib Subang, a much needed and long overdue place of worship for Sikhs in this part of wider Klang Valley.
But the apprehension is couched with a sense of optimism that things will work out as they marshall forward in the construction of the building.
You see, there is a shortfall of RM3 million for the RM4.8 million gurdwara building project undertaken by the Subang Sikh Association, Selangor (SSAS). The building includes two heavy duty lifts as the darbar sahib will be on the top most floor.
“The response from the Sanggat has been good but could be better,” SSAS president Amrick Singh tells Asia Samachar when met at a function at the construction site yesterday.
“We’ve been encouraging people to contribute their daswand. The local Sikh families are being encouraged to contribute RM10,000 per family.”
But the slowdown in the local economy has, somewhat, hit the fund raising activities.
“We are trying to get some corporate donors as well. We need the funding soon as the construction is well underway,” said an active volunteer.
Subang Jaya is a vibrant Malaysian township located between Petaling Jaya, Puchong and Shah Alam.
SSAS, formally registered in 2002, was formed with two objectives: To promote the teachings of Sikhism to Sikhs in Subang, and to obtain a piece of land to build the gurdwara.
Initial applications for a plot of land were made to the local authorities in 2003. In January 2012, the Selangor state government had approved the allocation of a 10,000 sq ft land for the purposes of the gurdwara.
The laying of the gurdwara sahib’s foundation stone was held on Jan 4, 2015, after the completion of an akhand path, or the continuous reading of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. On May 9, the piling for the building at a cost of RM148,000 was commenced.
Those interested in the tender process are requested to contact SSAS committee president Amrick via WhatsApp or SMS at [+60125389061] or email to amricksinghrandhawa@yahoo.com.
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There may be several multi-millionnairs in Subang Jaya. As the beneficiaries of the new Gurdwara Complex some of the more affluent ones may consider following the example set by some former TATT KHALSA COMMITTEE MEMBERS and some others who MORTGAGED THEIR OWN PROPERTIES TO RAISE URGENTLY NEEDED FUNDS FOR THE TATT KHALSA BUILDING COMPLEX. The advanced interest exempt loans were settled later when Sanggat made donations.
Another place of ‘surplus’ funds may be some Gurdwaras who have substantial funds with some in MILLIONS OF RINGGIT in their FIXED DEPOSITS WITH BANKS EARNING A MEASLY 3% TO 4% INTERESTS INCOME ANNUALLY. This would be a good opportunity for these excess funds Gurdwaras to assist CASH SHORT FUNDS Gurdwaras by providing period loans. Payment of interest rate could be considered which could be HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY ARE GETTING FROM BANKS but would BE LOWER THAN WHAT THE NEEDY GURDWARAS ARE PAYING FOR THEIR OVERDRAFT FACILITIES. This suggestion was made when TATT KHALSA needed funds but most surplus funds Gurdwaras rejected with reasons that ‘FUNDS NEEDED FOR OWN PROJECTS’ [even though some of the Projects were not implemented, if implemented, for many years or ‘WE DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE ADVANCED FUNDS WILL BE REPAID WHEN REQUIRED’.
Sadly this denoted that even LEADERS OF some GURDWARA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES [‘GMC’] were NOT WILLING TO ASSIST OTHER NEEDY GURDWARAS.
Now the ‘GMC’ with surplus funds have another opportunity to assist FINANCE SHORT GURDWARAS SUCH AS THE SUBANG JAYA ‘GMC’ who has appealed for funds as it is RM3M short.
‘GMC’ should realize that the GURDWARA FUNDS ARE TRUST FUNDS BELONGING TO SANGGAT AND SHOULD AND CAN ALSO BE USED TO ASSIST OTHER GURDWARAS IN NEED. CHANGE OF MINDSET IS NEEDED.
It is further recommended that ‘GMC’ who are ambitious to have large Gurdwara Complexes should have ensured availability of sufficient funds to avoid cash flow problems and to avoid any possibility of financial embarrassment and danger of Project being abandoned midway. DO ALL YOU CAN BEFORE ASKING OTHERS.
Above are suggestions without malice and apologies if anyone feels offended.
GURUFATEH