Indian leaders optimistic about PHEB’s move to Unity Ministry

INDIAN community leaders are cautiously optimistic about the federal government’s move to transfer the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) to be under the National Unity Ministry from the Prime Minister’s Department as it was before.

Former chairman P Ramasamy allayed any major concerns, saying in a statement that the placement of the PHEB under a federal ministry has long been a “ritualistic exercise” as the administration is under the state.

“Such placement does not invalidate the executive functions of the PHEB under the state government,” said the former deputy chief minister.

“When I was the chairman of the PHEB from 2010 to mid-2023, it was assigned to Human Resource Ministry. Before my time, it was possibly placed under some other ministry or department.”

He said that Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow might have overreacted to the announcement by the National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang that the PHEB would be placed under his ministry.

Chow had expressed surprise that the state was not consulted about the move.

Former board commissioner S. Raveentharan said that the move may mean more funding since greater attention can be devoted to it under a full ministry rather than a sub-division of the PM’s Department.

“It is our fervent hope that more funds can be accorded to oversee the temple and religious needs while also looking out for the welfare of the Hindus,” said the former state assemblyman for Batu Uban.

Interestingly, the move comes after the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) was also transferred from the PM’s Department to the National Unity Ministry following the cabinet reshuffle last month.

Saraswathy Kandasamy, a PKR vice-president, was made deputy unity minister.

She was previously a deputy minister in the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry. Saraswathy has been involved in matters of Indian economic upliftment and welfare under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The move to bring Mitra and PHEB under the National Unity Ministry may thus be strategic.

Incidentally, Saraswathy is a Penangite who was raised in the inner city of George Town, where her family ran a restaurant business in the 70s and 80s.

Positive impact in long term

Aaron earlier said that the board was relocated to the National Unity Ministry as part of a restructuring exercise.

He said that the board and Mitra will have “a positive impact for the development and improvement of Indians in the country in the long term.”

The National Unity Ministry will aid the low-income people in the community and help raise their standing in terms of education, economy and society, Aaron had said.

Penang Consumer Protection Society president Datuk K. Koris Atan said the board has served under federal purview, so it is normal that it be transferred to another ministry.

Echoing what Raveentharan said, he said that the move can result in more funding for the board. Or it could at least ease the bureaucratic process, said Koris.

The board is a statutory organisation first formed under a 1906 enactment by the colonial government of the Straits Settlements comprising Singapore, Penang and Melaka.

The enactment later became federal law as the Hindu Endowments Act.

The board administers five endowments, properties, and 13 temples on Penang island and the mainland, while also organising the annual Thaipusam and Ponggal festivals here.

The board is headed by a chairman and vice-chairman and 11 commissioners, all appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negri on the advice of the state.

Board chairman R.S. N Rayer was also quoted as saying that he welcomes the move, as it can help provide more funding to aid the needy and for the management of temples. – The Vibes, January 6, 2024