| Ipoh, Malaysia | 25 June 2016 | Asia Samachar |
Embroiled in a protracted battle on membership, some members of the Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Ipoh (WGSI) have lodged police reports today against what they allege to be attempts to temper with their membership.
In the latest move by the gurdwara management committee (GMC), some members are said to have they received the next batch of letters on their membership status, with at least one member being suspended for one year.
In one police report lodged at the Ipoh police headquarters, the copy of which was cited by Asia Samachar, the members alleged that the GMC had acted in ‘bad intent’ for not calling the extraordinary general meeting (EOGM) as urged by some members.
SEE ALSO: Police show up at Ipoh gurdwara AGM
SEE ALSO: Ipoh gurdwara issue show cause letter to members who joined protest
The issue began with the gurdwara’s annual general meeting held on 26 February 2016. Then, some members who came for the AGM were told that they had ceased to be members for not updating their membership fee, also known as chandaa. In the past, members had routinely been allowed to update their membership prior to the AGM, according to members spoken to earlier.
The meeting also made news on the Sikh social media when the GMC, led by its president Amarjit Singh Gill, had called for police presence at the gurdwara compound. There were also allegations of the participation of non-Malaysians, some identified as maids of influential gurdwara members, at the meeting.
On 6 March, a group of members held a protest at the gurdwara compound against the way the AGM was conducted. The GMC had retaliated with issuing show cause letters to those members for allegedly bringing disrepute to the gurdwara reputation.
The latest casualty is Kulwan Singh, a retired worker from the Ipoh municipal council, whose membership has been suspended for one year until 5 March 2017.
In a letter dated 10 June 2016, it said the suspension was decided by the GMC in a meeting on 31 May 2016. The letter was signed WGSI secretary Manjit Singh, who is the brother of GMC president Amarjit.
Kulwan had earlier lodged a report with the Registry of Socieies (ROS) on the alleged misconduct at the February AGM.
Jaswinder Singh, a hockey player and an active volunteer at the gurdwara, was told in a letter dated 21 June, that his membership had been reinstated after receipt of subscription payment.
However, in the same letter, also cited by Asia Samachar, he has been given 10 days to ‘explain why disciplinary action should not be taken’ against him for participating in the March protest.
[ASIA SAMACHAR is an online newspaper for Sikhs in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. We have a Facebook page, do give it a LIKE. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website: www.asiasamachar.com]
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1 after another good sikh destroy another sikh what are you guys up too seriously. I can see lots of them are seniors but this kind of behaviour. I’m not siding anyone here but i think both parties will be happy once they manage to destroy everything. Guruji bless you all
The 4 quotes did not appear. Solet me try again:
Quote: The Sikh Sanggat leaders appear to be standing aside
My response: What leaders? The poor sangat/members had little option but to seek the help of the RoS (don’t expect too much), or make Police reports (don’t hold your breath on that one either).
Quote: leadership of Ipoh Wada Gurdwara Sahib
My response: Is there a leadership there? You caught me off guard; I’m better informed now.
The next 2 comments say a lot and may serve as answers to the preceding comment; I need not say anymore.
The “next 2 comments” alluded to were:
“Holding on to power may give the perception that current leadership is more interested in the KERUSI instead of acting for the benefit of the Sanggat”
“MGC LEADERS IF NOT WILLING TO OR ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM SHOULD REFLECT ON THEMSELVES AND MAY CONSIDER RESIGNING HONORABLY INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO HOLD ON TO THEIR ‘KERUSIS’ WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THEM BEING REFERRED TO AS REPRESENTATIVES OF SIKHI AND SANGGAT”
Let me take some quotes from the comments:
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What leaders? The poor sangat/members had little option but to seek the help of the RoS (don’t expect too much), or make Police reports (don’t hold your breath on that one either).
<>
Is there a leadership there? You caught me off guard; I’m better informed now.
The next 2 comments say a lot and may serve as answers to the preceding comment; I need not say anymore.
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Barring very few exceptions (and there are exceptions) the situation in Perak (read that as mainly Ipoh) has always been a question of ‘politics’, i.e. doing what is necessary for the promotion of self-interest or of promoting one’s progeny or other family member. Service to the Community (seva) is furthest from the minds of the ‘leaders’.
Very likely, family control of gurdwaras and organistaions is not peculiar to Ipoh.
Holding on to power may give the perception that current leadership is more interested in the KERUSI instead of acting for the benefit of the Sanggat. However the ‘intentions’ of the Opposition responsible for the Police reports may also be subject to perception that they may not be acting for the interest of the Sanggat.
All involved may be insulting the the Sikh Religion and Guru Jis who sacrificed all for Sikhi and the current opponents may be willing to sacrifice Sikhi for personal greed for Kerusi but in the name of the Sanggat?
MGC LEADERS IF NOT WILLING TO OR ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM SHOULD REFLECT ON THEMSELVES AND MAY CONSIDER RESIGNING HONORABLY INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO HOLD ON TO THEIR ‘KERUSIS’ WHICH MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THEM BEING REFERRED TO AS REPRESENTATIVES OF SIKHI AND SANGGAT.
Can’t the members write to the GMC asking them to show cause for their actions, especially about how the AGM was conducted.
Family dictatorship running the GMC is certainly not acceptable.
Sad to say that what was feared appears to have taken place with this latest Police report.
The Sikh Sanggat leaders appear to be standing aside instead of stopping the dispute. Are they helpless or not willing to take proactive action to end this sad continuation of episode which denotes to be indicative more of their ambition and ‘self interest and greed for power” but not willing to LEAD’?
May be the leaders if helpless or not willing, to let others take leadership including leadership of Ipoh Wada Gurdwara Sahib.
Leadership carries responsibility and if not then let others who are able and willing to take leadership positions.
PRAY FOR ALL
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