Task force start nationwide survey on Hindu temples (Malaysiakini)

Dec 7, 10 4:00pm

The Task Force on Hindu Places of Worship is carrying out a nationwide survey aimed at setting up a database on Hindu temples.
The survey is led by a non-profit organisation, MyNadi Foundation, in collaboration with Malaysia Hindu Council, Malaysia Hindudharma Mamandram and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam.
"This survey is important as there is still no database available on the number of Hindu temples in the country.
"It is estimated that there are thousands of Hindu temples nationwide, but how many are there, we are unsure," MyNadi Foundation chairperson Jeyaindran Tan Sri Sinnadurai told a news conference after opening the foundations’s Kuala Lumpur office and service centre at Brickfields here, today.
He added that the survey was also important in the efforts to tackle issues related to Hindu temples especially regarding land ownerships and funding.
Currently, there are four categories of Hindu temples, namely those owned by registered organisations and have their own land, owned by registered organisations but without their own land, family-run temples, and shrines located in random places such as by the roadsides or under the trees.
Jeyaindran said information including the history, management committee, special features, religious activities carried out, land status and future plans would be collected through the survey.
He added that besides survey conducted by field officers, survey forms would also be sent out to temples.
"We are also getting the local NGOs to help us locate these temples in their localities and to conduct this survey," he said, adding that the project was expected to be completed in 12 months while a preliminary report was expected to be tabled in six months.
He hoped that the findings of the survey could be published as guidelines for future set up and management of Hindu temples in the country.
- Bernama