national-express-malaysia.blogspot.com
PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA, March 6, 2009: Malaysia’s oldest Ganesha temple, the Sri Sithi Vinayagar Temple in Petaling Jaya, faces a possible takeover by the Insolvency Department following a long-standing row among the administrators. This would be the first time a religious institution in Malaysia is subjected to such a disgrace.
The Registrar of Societies, Datuk Md Alias Kalil, issued a showcause letter dated March 3 asking the temple’s management committee to explain why it should not be deregistered. The committee has until April 3 to respond.
The Hindu community is indignant that the management committee, comprising professionals, has been unable to run the affairs of the temple. They speculate that the problems arose from infighting and a power struggle. The registrar’s intervention had been sought by ex-committee members and a group of elected office bearers who resigned en bloc in September 2008.