Rayer (centre) with PHEB commissioners. — KT GOH/The Star
Newly appointed Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) chairman RSN Rayer will prioritise consensus-building.
He said the board’s commissioners were made up of people from diverse backgrounds, including a temple priest who can advise them on religious matters.
“There is also a representative from the Gujerati community.
“We are ready to serve with dedication while fostering inclusiveness.
“We are also open to suggestions and views from all parties when running the board,” said the Jelutong MP after introducing the new PHEB commissioners at Komtar.
This is the first time the board is headed by an MP.
Previously, it was headed by the state executive councillor in charge of Indian affairs.
Asked if there would only be one chariot for the Thaipusam festival next year, Rayer said both the golden and silver chariot processions would remain for now.
“We will not be ‘confrontational’ as we want to be seen as people-friendly,” he said.
The chariot procession has been an issue of contention between PHEB and the Chettiars ever since the board rolled out the golden chariot in 2017.
The move was seen as challenging the more than century-old monopoly of the silver chariot operated by the Nattukottai Chettiars.
From then on, there have been two chariots making the trip from Little India to the temples in Jalan Kebun Bunga.
Besides Rayer, the other commissioners are Senator Dr R. Lingeshwaran (deputy chairman), Dr Vishantini Kanasan (secretary), state executive council member Datuk Seri Sundarajoo Somu, Batu Uban assemblyman A. Kumaresan, Bagan Dalam assemblyman Kumaran Krishnan and Penang MIC chairman Datuk J. Dhinagaran.
Also on the board are Sundraraj Thannimalay, Datuk Parthiban Sanderasaggram, Jagruti B. Upadhyaya, Dinesh Nagan, Shanmuganathan Govindasamy and Chandra Mohan Krishnan.
The PHEB was previously headed by former Perai assemblyman and Deputy Chief Minister ll Dr P. Ramasamy, who quit DAP several days before the state elections in August. — By R. SEKARAN
