PENANG has suggested that a first of its kind museum for the Sikh community be established there to complement what is believed to be the country's oldest Sikh Gurdwara temple at 120-years-old.
State executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo who mooted the concept, said the museum would attract the Sikh and the broader community of Punjabis the world over, and it ties in with the present conservation and restoration efforts of what is presumed to be Malaysia's oldest Gurdwara place of worship on Jalan Gurdwara.
Speaking to journalists in conjunction with the annual Vaisakhi Sikh New Year celebrations in Penang, Jagdeep said that the museum will showcase the historical achievements and deeds of the community.
"Like what the Sultan of Perak (Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah) had decreed that the Sikhs made up only 2.5% of the population, but they had always stood out and made their presence known in contributions."
Jagdeep said that he will discuss with the state government on where best to site the facility, which will also add colour to Penang's rich and diverse background of people.
Earlier, Jagdeep revealed that the restoration of the Sikh temple here is expected to take up to another two years due to the delicate construction material and variations of bricks and mortar in its structure.
The cost is now close to RM5 million – up from an initial RM1.4 million – due to the impact from Covid-19, with delicate mapping and the high costs involved in restoring the place to its original splendour.
Jagdeep revealed that the temple restoration committee chairman is Datuk Mahinder Singh Dulku, the secretary is Datuk Malkit Singh, while the patron is his mother Datin Seri Gurmit Kaur Deo.
The committee has also engaged the help of conservationist Gwynn Jenkins to assist in applying for the temple to be gazetted as a National Heritage Site as it would help in the long-term conservation and preservation of it.
Jenkins said that she has found that the temple here has a dome based on the hundreds of old receipts she had uncovered in her task to restore the structure.
There is also the fact that this building has zero-carbon emissions and it was constructed with the help of Sikh soldiers who were among the earliest military detachments based at the heritage treasure of Fort Cornwallis. – The Vibes, April 18, 2021
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