Left: (From left) Harmindar, Lalita Devi, Kuldip, Yeoh, Sangeet, Awtar, Amarjeet and Reddy at Ekta Club of Kuala Lumpur & Selangor’s 10th anniversary gala dinner. Photos: — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
A GALA dinner hosted by a Sikh non-governmental organisation (NGO) to celebrate its 10th anniversary raised RM550,000.
Ekta Club of Kuala Lumpur & Selangor president Datin Kuldip Kaur said most of the funds would go towards establishing a Sikh senior citizens’ activity centre.
The NGO is hoping the facility will help combat loneliness, isolation and inactivity among the elderly.
“The centre is Ekta Club’s most ambitious and heartfelt initiative so far.
“It will host various activities for senior citizens to promote their physical and mental health,” she said during the club’s 10th anniversary gala dinner at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Ekta Club, formed by a group of professional Sikh women, aims to empower the community through youth development programmes as well as free legal, medical and welfare aid.
About RM550,000 was raised from the dinner and from that amount, RM450,000 will be used for the senior citizens’ activity centre, Kuldip told StarMetro.
She added that the rest of the funds will be allocated for their community outreach and empowerment activities.
Miss Charm International 1990 Kavita Sidhu (front, right) and designer Kavita Thulasidas (front, left) during the fashion show.
“We are now sourcing for an appropriate premises for the activity centre.
“It needs to be easily accessible and close to amenities such as medical facilities.”
She added that in line with the government’s focus on age-care initiatives, the club had been asking itself if it was doing enough for Sikh elders.
“We held a high-tea event in June last year for Punjabi women over 75 and it received overwhelming response.
“This signifies an urgent need for culturally aligned senior citizens’ programmes,” said Kuldip.
Also present was Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh who pledged RM10,000 to Ekta Club for the construction of the activity centre.
She expressed her appreciation for the NGO’s contribution to nation building over the past decade.
Yeoh urged the club’s senior citizens to seek opportunities to hand down their expertise to youths.
“I have spent 17 years of my life in politics and one of the things I have learned is that everything you build can be easily undone.
“Hence, it is important for you to find suitable successors to inherit your expertise,” she said in her speech.
Some 650 people attended the dinner which featured cultural dances, interactive activities, fashion show and lucky draw.
Artiste Kamal Chopra also entertained guests with a musical performance.
Also present were former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia BN Reddy and his wife Lalita Devi, High Court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh and his wife Datin Awtar Kaur and lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo.
Those interested in contributing and collaborating with Ekta Club can write to ektamalaysia@gmail.com
