Loke signing a plaque at the groundbreaking ceremony. With him are (from left) Lee, state industrialisation and non-Muslim affairs committee chairman Teo Kok Seong, Dr Sukhdarshan, Federal Court judge Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, local government development, housing and transport committee chairman J. Arul Kumar and Datuk N. Logendran, director of a Matrix Concepts subsidiary.
THE Sikh community in Bandar Sri Sendayan and its surrounding areas near Seremban, Negri Sembilan, can soon look forward to a gurdwara or place of worship in the sprawling township.
The groundbreaking ceremony for construction began with an ardaas (brief prayer) by the panj pyare (the five beloved ones or baptised Sikhs), followed by a symbolic launch by Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
The gurdwara will be built on a 0.45ha land donated by developer Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd.
Loke, who is also Seremban MP, said the building of places of worship for all communities would help preserve harmony and strengthen unity.
“It makes me happy to note that the Sikhs too would have a place of worship in this beautiful development.
“This also goes to prove that although Islam is the country’s official religion, the freedom of religion as provided in the Federal Constitution remains protected.”
Loke said this was also the foundation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani framework, which among others promotes mutual respect and peace.
The Madani initiative is aimed at protecting every person in the country regardless of their religious background.
Through it, the government will focus on problem-solving and values to build good morals in building a better society through six pillars – sustainability, prosperity, innovation, respect, trust and compassion.
“It is my hope that apart from religious activities, the gurdwara will also be a centre for education and other activities that can benefit the community, especially the young,” said Loke.
He also commended Matrix Concepts for donating the land for the gurdwara.
“From a medium-sized company, Matrix Concepts has grown rapidly and is now public-listed and extremely successful.
“It is my hope that we will continue to share this spirit of supporting and respecting one another, so that we will be able to live in a peaceful and harmonious environment,” said Loke, who made a RM100,000 contribution to the project.
Matrix Concepts founder and group executive deputy chairman Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock said he was glad that the company was able to help the community build their place of worship.
“We consider this part of the group’s corporate special responsibility and I am extremely happy that my company has been an integral part of this project.
“We foresee that this place of worship will attract many more Sikhs to move to this beautiful township,” he said, adding that Matrix Concepts had completed the construction of some 15,000 houses since the development began in 2005.
Lee said the group had also helped established several other places of worship in the development.
Apart from a Hindu temple and church, it has built a mosque which can accommodate up to 1,500 people and 10 surau in the various precincts.
Matrix Concepts will also help build a new Buddhist temple and learning centre costing some RM16mil.
The Fo Guang Shan Cultural and Educational Centre on a 0.75ha area will be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
Apart from the 0.45ha land, the developer had also donated RM500,000 to the gurdwara project.
Persatuan Penganut Sikhism Negri Sembilan president Datuk Dr Sukhdarshan Singh Dhillon said plans to build the gurdwara had been delayed for several years.
“We are glad that this project is finally taking off and we thank Matrix Concepts, which has not only given us this land for free but helped us financially too.
“Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to the federal and state governments and individual donors who have come forward to help,” he said.
He added that the gurdwara would serve Sikhs living in neighbouring areas such as Seremban 2, Rasah Kemayan, Bandar Ainsdale as well as other parts of Seremban.
