| Kuching, Malaysia | 21 May 2017 | Asia Samachar
The Sarawak state government has allocated Sikhs in Kuching land adjacent to the gurdwara for its expansion, as well as another plot of land to build a new crematorium site.
“You can still maintain this (Kuching Sikh Temple) as your heritage site as it is strategic and tourists can come for a visit,” Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said when attending a Vaisakhi celebration at the gurdwara in the Malaysian state on the East Malaysia, as quoted by Borneo Post (Expansion planned for Kuching Sikh Temple, 20 May 2017).
The state government has approved a piece of land adjacent to the current gurdwara at Jalan Masjid for expansion works. The land, described in the newspaper report as ‘strategically located behind’ the gurdwara, will be where the state government was going to implement a major development plan.
When asked to elaborate its plans, Gurdwara Sahib Kuching committee president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira tells Asia Samachar: “We will work on it in the near future…no definitive plans yet but we aim to build a building behind the gurdwara to house classrooms, hall, quarters, library and other amenities.”
He added that the old crematorium which is unused now will remain with the gurdwara to be used for other purposes.
CM Aband Johari is the state assemblyman of the area where the gurdwara is located while Federal Works Minister Fadillah Yusof, who was also present, is the Member of Parliament from that area.
“We thank them both. They have always been very supportive of the Sikh community,” he added.
At the event, the gurdwara also recognised its Punjabi school teachers in Kuching.
In his speech, Dr Kalwinder also brought up the issue of old Sikh historical sites during the Japanese occupation like the Punjabi Barracks at Batu Lintang.
“We have written in to the teachers training college to be allowed to put up boards to explain their historical value. We request to be allowed to do our part to provide information on the buildings. These are located at the Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Batu Lintang in Kuching.
“We are also requesting the state government to replace another piece of land in Bau which we used to have many years ago. That is still pending,” he told Asia Samachar in a text message.
In the same newspaper report, Dr Kalwinder was qouted as saying: “We have been here for 100 years and we have to plan for the next 100 years.”
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