RM10 mil ‘upgrade’ for Hindu temple

When completed the Klang Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple which received its ISO 9001:2000 certification in 2006 wil be a tourism icon.

KLANG: The royal town of Klang will get a new tourism icon in the form of a RM10 million Hindu temple, which will open its doors to worshippers and tourists by mid 2015.

The Klang Sri Sundararaja Perumal Temple president S. Anandakrishnan said the temple, which is currently being rebuilt to be the first granite temple in the country, has the potential to be developed as an icon for tourism of international standard.

“Once the granite temple is completed, discussions will be held with the Tourism Ministry to include the temple in their tourism calendar as a preferred choice to be visited by tourists.

“We believe the temple has the potential to become a tourist attraction and a beautiful landmark in the royal town of Klang that could attract foreign tourist arrivals in the country,” he said.

The Hindu temple, which is dubbed the Thirupathi of South-East Asia, has enlisted the efforts of 50 stone carvers and their families in Kanchipuram, 60km from Chennai, India, to craft the all-granite temple.

Anandakrishnan said the granite structure followed the precise design formulae defined by southern Indian temple builders thousands of years ago.

“It is believed using granite will cause the vibrations of the mantras to resonate at a higher level,” he said, adding that the consecration ceremony of the new temple would be held on June 9, 2015.

In 2006, the temple was awarded with ISO 9001:2000 certification for its quality sustained contribution in religious, cultural and social service to Hindus.

Perkasa ugut boikot Gerakan, seru ahli undi DAP

Datuk Ibrahim Ali memberi amaran tidak menjadikan NGO itu 'punching bag' bagi menutup kekalahan dalam PRU ke-12 dan 13.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pertubuhan Peribumi Perkasa (Perkasa) tidak akan teragak-agak untuk menyokong DAP jika parti Gerakan terus menyalahkan mereka sebagai punca kemerosotan pengundi kaum Cina.

Presiden Perkasa Datuk Ibrahim Ali berkata, pihaknya memberi amaran kepada Gerakan supaya tidak menjadikan mereka sebagai alat ‘punching bag’ bagi menutup kelemahan mereka sendiri apabila kalah dalam Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) ke-12 dan 13.

“Kalau Gerakan terus jadikan Perkasa ‘punching bag’, Perkasa takkan segan silu lagi kalau berterusan sampai ke PRU14 kita tak tolak kemungkinan akan isytihar dikawasan Gerakan bertanding, ahli Perkasa takkan bagi sokongan.

“Kalau mereka terus serang dan memperlekehkan kita, kita akan beritahu ahli jangan undi calon Gerakan.

“Ada kawasan yang Gerakan lawan DAP dan terpulang kepada Perkasa kalau nak undi DAP dia akan sokong DAP.

“Kalau DAP menang DAP duduk luar kerajaan jadi tiada masalah buat Perkasa,” katanya dalam sidang media di sini hari ini.

Gerakan kalah sebelum Perkasa ditubuhkan.

Bekas ahli parlimen Pasir Mas itu berkata, Perkasa ditubuhkan pada tahun September 2008, selepas Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) ke-12 pada Mac dan ketika itu Gerakan sudah kalah di Pulau Pinang dan banyak kerusi di Kedah sebelum Perkasa ditubuhkan lagi.

Katanya, kekalahan Gerakan (PRU12 dan PRU13) tiada kaitan dengan Perkasa, sebaliknya itu masalah dalam parti yang ahlinya sendiri tak puas hati apatah lagi pengundi kaum Cina.

“Kenapa nak jadikan Perkasa sebagai ‘punching bag’ kononnya alasan mereka gagal PRU?

“Kena kaji diri sendiri jangan salahkan orang lain.

“Kalau dah tak upaya dapat sokongan Cina lebih baik bubar dan bergabung semula dengan MCA,” tegasnya.

Tegasnya, kenyataan Chang itu tidak bertanggungjawab dan tidak perlu ‘menjual’ nama Perdana Menteri semata-mata hendak meraih sokongan semula.

‘PM tak sokong Perkasa?’

“Perdana Menteri ini orang Melayu. Kalau dia kata PM tak sokong Perkasa maknanya PM tak sokong orang-orang Melayu dalam Perkasa.

“Walau dituduh macam-macam kita tetap sokong BN tak kira parti,” katanya.

Semalam, Pemangku Presiden Gerakan Datuk Chang Ko Yun mendakwa Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak memberitahunya bahawa Presiden Barisan Nasional (BN) itu tidak pernah menyokong politik perkauman yang diperjuangkan Perkasa.

Chang dalam ucapan perasmian Kongres semalam berkata, kerajaan perlu menolak segala bentuk unsur perkauman sempit dan menamakan Perkasa sebagai ‘ancaman’ keharmonian kaum.

Malah, Najib yang hadir sama dalam ucapan perasmian dilihat seakan turut menyokong pendirian Chang dan menegaskan BN sepatutnya menolak politik perkauman.

Take it up with the sultans, Perkasa tells Kamalanathan

Perkasa has told Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan to take it up with the sultans if he is insistent against allowing cow slaughtering in school grounds.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said this was because such practices were part of Malay Muslim culture and is under the purview of the conference of rulers.

“We hope MIC leaders will not be too influenced by sentiments to allow such matters to drag on and affect harmony.

“It would be best if Kamalanathan raises this with the conference of rulers and head of state who are also head of religion,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.
Hindu parents had complained of the slaughtering during the Aidiladha celebration last week. Cows are deemed sacred by Hindus.

‘Don’t interfere in religious matters’

Ibrahim said the slaughtering of cows in schools was a tradition among the Malay populace and should not be made an issue among the Hindu community.

“This is not something new, so I ask the Indian community not to make it into a big issue.

“If the Indians don’t want their religious affairs or sensitive issues to be interfered with, then don’t touch on sensitive issues of Muslims,” he said.

On another matter, Ibrahim announced that Perkasa will be holding its 4th annual conference on Dec 14 this year.

“We will be amending our constitution so that our party hierarchy can extend until the parliamentary level. At the moment our presence is only up to the district level,” he said.