EKTA legal team visits Kota Kinabalu Sikh community

By Kiranjit Kaur | EVENT REPORT | MALAYSIA |

The EKTA Club of Kuala Lumpur & Selangor recently led a team to share on legal matters with the Sanggat (congregation) of Gurdwara Sahib Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

EKTA lawyers Amarjit Kaur and Harwinder Kaur spoke on Wills, Probate and Advance Care Planning in Peninsular Malaysia. They were joined by Ram Singh, a Sabahan legal expert, who expanded on Sabah law for wills and probate matters.

The event on 15 September 2019 was the first joint project between EKTA and the Sikh Community and Gurdwara in Kota Kinabalu, which was built in 1924.

The programme, held in a function room at the gurdwara, was attended by a lively Kota Kinabalu sanggat, which included several members who were born in Peninsular Malaysia and had families and properties in Peninsular Malaysia.

We also observed mixed marriages among the sanggat where the native Sabahans such as Kadazans, have assimilated into the Sikh community. The natives have their customary laws governing them.

The talk involved discussions on the application of the relevant Sabah Ordinances and their impact on those members of the sanggat who were considered natives and who had Bumiputera status. It was indeed a lively and interesting discussion, and a learning experience for all.

Kota Kinabalu gurdwara secretary Amarjit Kaur said the gurdwara committee and sanggat were very happy to meet and interact with the EKTA sisters.

She found the talks beneficial and the session on Advance Care Planning thought provoking. She also mentioned the gurdwara sanggat looked forward to more programmes with groups from Peninsular Malaysia.