THE 125-year-old Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang was officially reopened after two years of renovation and upgrades in George Town.
With support from Sunway Group, whose founder, Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, personally supported the renovation by donating RM1 million, the oldest and largest Sikh temple in Southeast Asia has reopened its doors.
Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong graced the occasion, but the family of the late DAP icon Datuk Seri Karpal Singh Deo stood proud of their role in leading the RM6 million upgrade.
Led by Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo and Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament Ramkarpal Singh Deo and their mother Datin Seri Gurmit Kaur, the reopening is seen as a boost for the state's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Founded in 1901, the gurdwara is also a Category One heritage building.
Gurdwara chairman Datuk Santok Singh said the long process was necessary because of the building’s heritage status and the need to restore it as authentically as possible.
“This is a heritage building. Getting the necessary approvals from various departments took time. Once we got the approvals, we submitted the plans, which also had to be approved. Then slowly, we started collecting donations,” he said.
The temple also had to procure materials similar to those used when the building was constructed about 125 years ago.
“We had to source materials similar to the original ones, such as lime plaster and tiles, and that took time.”
He added that the works also involved restoring the building to its original design, including its floral decorative work, which had been replaced with colourful tiles at some point in the 1970s.
Traditional lime mortar was used instead of modern cement, while a large dome was brought in from Amritsar, India.
The restoration also involved a team of about seven specialist artisans from Tamil Nadu in India, who worked on the decorative and detailed sculpture work.
Santok said the artisans came from an area near Rameswaram known for its long tradition of craftsmanship, with skills often passed down through generations.
He said the restoration took about 15 months, while the pandemic did cause delays.
The gurdwara itself has a history of community support.
Historical accounts state that every Sikh in the police force and the Malay States Guides contributed one month’s salary towards the building fund.
In November 1900, the Penang government granted 20,064sq ft of land along Brick Kiln Road, now Jalan Gurdwara, for its construction.
The title deed was signed on March 23, 1901.
Santok said the building also received support from people outside the Sikh community, including Malays, Chinese and other ethnic Indians.
“The support reflected the spirit of unity among the different communities.”
Gurmit is also the patron of the temple, and for years, the family has contributed their time and effort to the gurdwara.
"Penang also leads because we have close friends from around the world."
Jagdeep said that he was honoured to have the Chief Priest of Anandpur Sahib to grace the official opening of the gurdwara. – September 14, 2026
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