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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, April 5, 2003: Parti Keadilan Nasional wants the practice of charging fees for religious rites during Thaipusam changed and has submitted a memorandum to the Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) asking for its help. The party’s nine-member delegation handed the 17-point memo to Sangam president A. Vaithilingam yesterday. “We are asking the MHS to intervene for the benefit of devotees and the public,” adding that all the points raised were based on public complaints. The issues raised include the collection of a US$2.63 fee for the Paal Kavadi (milk kavadi), the need to limit the tenure of Sri Maha Mariamman temple committee members to three years, the reduction of the hefty parking fees of $13.15 for buses and $2.63 for cars and the provision more public toilets and rubbish bins. Keadilan Youth has been protesting against the collection of fees for religious rites during Thaipusam celebrations. This is despite the temple committee having clarified in January, that the collection was for the maintenance and management of the temple which cost about $26,315 a month, as it did not get a single cent from the Government, although Batu Caves is a major tourist attraction. Vaithilingam said that although MHS is only an advisory body to all temples in the country, it would look into the issues raised by the delegation, adding that the memorandum would be discussed at their next national advisory council meeting.

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