GEORGE TOWN: SUNWAY Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah has donated RM1mil to help complete the restoration of a 125-year-old Sikh temple.
The Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang, the oldest gurdwara in Malaysia, will continue serving people of all backgrounds through education, health and community outreach programmes.
Founded in 1901, Wadda Gurdwara Sahib is a Category One heritage building within the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site and an enduring symbol of Penang’s multicultural heritage.
Category One is the highest classification under George Town’s heritage conservation framework, covering buildings and sites of exceptional significance to the city’s historic and cultural landscape.
The temple was officially reopened today (Sept 12) by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, alongside Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim.
Jagdeep said that the restoration would ensure that an important part of the state’s history is preserved for future generations.
“Penang is proud to preserve landmarks such as Wadda Gurdwara Sahib, which embody our shared multicultural heritage,” he said.
“We are deeply grateful to Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah for his generosity in supporting this restoration. His contribution reflects a commitment to inclusivity and unity, ensuring that this temple remains a beacon of faith and harmony for generations to come,” Jagdeep added.
The Penang state government had earlier contributed RM1mil towards the restoration project in April 2024, while another RM600,000 was raised at a fundraising dinner in Kuala Lumpur.
The official ceremony forms part of a three-day grand opening programme from Sept 12 to 14. It began with prayers and the ceremonial Prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sikhism’s sacred scripture, followed by a commemorative plaque signing and a tour of an exhibition tracing the gurdwara’s 125-year history.
The programme also features devotional recitations and music, visits to the Darbar Sahib prayer hall and langar (community kitchen), reflecting the gurdwara’s continuing role as both a place of worship and a centre of community life.
