New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, July 14, 2004: Hindu temples should become centers for upliftment of the Indian community and not only places of worship, Malaysia Nanban reported yesterday. It quoted MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam as saying that they could be used for classes after school for students. The newspaper said this had been the practice in the past, when estate temples flourished as centers of excellence for the local community. Subramaniam said estate elders had used temple premises to help raise the level of consciousness among rural folk on current issues. This, he said, should be emulated by the current generation of estate workers. Speaking at a function at the Muthumariamman temple in Muar yesterday, he was quoted by Malaysia Nanban as saying that temple managements should be sensitive to the needs of the community.