PETALING JAYA: A RM20mil fund will be distributed to 1,000 Hindu temples nationwide under the Dharma Madani initiative to support community and social development programmes, says Raveendran Nair.
The Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) director-general said the initiative is not just about funding, but a long-term effort to strengthen the role temples play at the grassroots level.
“Temples are the heartbeat of the community. From here come values, unity and knowledge,” he said in a statement Tuesday (April 28).
He encouraged temple committees to step up efforts to engage young people through activities such as Thevaram, Bharatanatyam, Silambam and Kabaddi, while also offering tuition classes and leadership programmes.
Raveendran said priority should be given to initiatives that support underprivileged families and education, rather than physical upgrades.
“This way, temples can continue to serve as places people turn to, not just for faith, but for support,” he added.
Under the initiative, each temple will receive RM20,000.
So far, RM3.1mil has been distributed to 155 temples in the first phase. A second phase involving RM6mil for 300 temples will take place on Tuesday (April 28) at Kalamandapam, Brickfields.
To ensure transparency, Raveendran said the list of recipients will be regularly updated on Mitra’s official website.
He also credited Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan for pushing reforms within the agency.
“He has been focused on cutting through bureaucracy and making sure help reaches those who actually need it,” he said.
Raveendran said the initiative reflects the Malaysia Madani approach introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, expressing confidence it would continue to strengthen and uplift the community.
