Jagdeep invites Panjab and Haryana CMs to Penang historic gurdwara reopening

By Asia Samachar  | Malaysia |

Penang has invited the Jathedar of the Akal Takht and the chief ministers (CMs) of Panjab and Haryana for the official reopening of the restored 123-year-old Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Pulau Pinang in September.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo has extended an invitation to Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Jathedar of Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, whom he met during a recent official visit to India.

Similar invites have also been sent to Panjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini to attend the Penang event.

The 123-year-old gurdwara, the oldest in Southeast Asia, is undergoing a major restoration and conservation effort. Jagdeep said the reopening would provide an important occasion to reconnect Penang’s Sikh community with Panjab and the wider Sikh world.

Jagdeep described the invitation to the Jathedar as one of the most significant aspects of his visit, saying the restored gurdwara represented an important link between Penang and the Sikh institutions of Panjab.

During his recent visit to India, Jagdeep visited to the Panjab State Assembly, where Jagdeep met Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. The Malaysian delegation was formally welcomed in the assembly, with Jagdeep introduced as Malaysia’s first Sikh deputy CM.

Beyond the heritage programme, Jagdeep said the meetings with CMs of Panjab and Haryana discussed stronger cooperation with Penang in industry, education, science and technology. He also addressed the World Punjabi Sikh Chamber of Commerce on business opportunities in Penang.

Earlier, in Chennai, Jagdeep met the state’s information technology leadership, addressed young Indian talent at the Chennai AI Summit 2026 and signed a memorandum of understanding on talent and STEM development.

“We have presented Penang as a viable partner with India for our future growth together and this was consolidated in writing with a signed MOU,” Jagdeep said in a Facebook post.

He said such engagements were important because they opened “international doors for our local Penang talents to grow in order to reach their potential”.

The Wadda Gurdwara Sahib reopening is expected to draw religious, political, business and community leaders from India and elsewhere, giving Penang’s Sikh community an international platform to mark the restoration of one of the region’s most significant Sikh heritage sites.

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