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Published: Sunday September 23, 2012 MYT 3:25:00 PM
Updated: Sunday September 23, 2012 MYT 3:27:54 PM

Palanivel urges Hindu temples to invest and not waste money on lavish ceremonies

By DERRICK VINESH


BUTTERWORTH: Hindu temple committees should stop wasting money on lavish consecration ceremonies that could run into millions of ringgit, MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said Sunday.

He said they could instead use the money to buy land, shoplot units or build community halls that could be rented out to generate some income back to the temples.

"Some temples spend between RM2mil to RM3mil on consecration ceremonies as well as on temple beautification work.

"They should reduce such expenses and conduct more social work and community activities instead," he said after opening a piling work ceremony for a RM4mil community hall at the Arulmigu Karumariamman Temple in Seberang Jaya here.

He praised the managements of Chettiar temples and Catholic churches in general for having the foresight to invest in land and properties for the future use of their respective communities.

Palanivel, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said MIC had given out close to RM30mil to Hindu temples, Tamil schools, Indian non-governmental organisations as well as to a few Sikh Gurdwara and Christian churches, under the department's allocation for this year.

He said the amount did not include the RM100mil that the federal government allocated this year for the renovation and upgrading of Tamil schools nationwide.

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