As a former assistant secretary of the Hindu Endowments Board, Penang I am glad to hear that Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng welcomes any one who is willing to help his administration and contribute for the benefit of Penangites regardless of race, religion or political background.

Is the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government sincere and willing to consider the calls of the Hindu community for effective management of Hindu trusts and endowments to return them to their original glory and purpose? We need to set right the mistakes of the BN era during the dark years from1993 to 2007.

The board’s function involves the management of endowments in ‘money’ and ‘land’ and do not include the managing of religious affairs and consecration of temples under the endowments. Donations of any kind do not represent income for the board. See Malaysiakini News on Jan 29 (Hindu Endowments and temples, Penang)

In the years 1978, 1982 and 1986 I submitted exco papers to consider board appointments to be based on merit to avoid political manipulation, chiefly by the MIC. The proposals were rejected by government due to objections from the MIC leadership.

As a result of my involvement to remove the political influence in the board and the management committees, I suffered the wrath of the MIC leadership.

However, later in December 1988, the then Penang chief minister agreed to all our proposal for a new board thus effectively blocking MIC’s influence. However, as soon as I took voluntary retirement in 1993, the board went through a major management crisis as it did not find a substitute candidates to fill up key positions.

The situation worsened due to the return of political interference, this time from two parties, namely MIC and Gerakan. The following shortcomings came to light:

1. The board secretary was not drawn from the federal civil service but was instead taken from the local council service and the appointment was based on name, race and religion.

2. The supervisory role the ‘downgraded’ secretary resulted in him being ‘bullied’.

3. The office was manned by private sector candidates on contractual basis and not candidates from the federal civil service who have had public service training.

4. MIC and Gerakan candidates overstayed their tenure of office up to 15 years.

5. Interference in religious affairs became a factor.

Pursuant to calls from professionals and responsible citizens, I decided to voice out on these matters via the United Hindu Religious Council (UHRC) as its deputy president.

Our attempts to get the Penang Pakatan Rakyat government to consider a wider spectrum of suitable persons for incoming Penang Hindu Endowments Board commissioners appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

The current selection process including indefinite extensions of the commissioners’ tenures, if left uncorrected would cause to be a great liability to the Pakatan Rakyat government as suffered by its predecessor.

Could we offer some help Mr Chief Minister?