DPM announces RM400k upgrade for Gurdwara Sahib Sentul

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has allocated RM400,000 to renovate and upgrade the Gurdwara Sahib Sentul, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said that the refurbishment of the Gurdwara will be fully funded by the government and advised the Sentul Gurdwara to channel the donations they get from the Sikh community to other Gurdwaras who are in need.
"Therefore any donations that this Gurdwara gets, it should be channelled to help other Gurdwaras in the country that need help," he said while addressing the more than a thousand strong crowd at the Gurdwara Sahib Sentul today during Vaisakhi celebrations.
Malaysian Gurdwaras Council president Jagir Singh said the building was erected in 1908 and had not been renovated in 20 years and was in need of upgrades.
Ahmad Zahid said although the Sikh community in Malaysia are a religious minority, the mutual respect among religious factions in Malaysia is what makes the nation unique.
"Although the Sikhs are a religious minority, we still have to respect them; we have to feel the unity among religions is unique in the country and this is what we have in Malaysia," he said to rapturous applause.
Meanwhile, a crowd of around 5,000 to 7,000 flocked to the Gurdwara Sahib in Petaling Jaya for the celebration.
Vaisakhi marks the formation of the Khalsa in 1699 which formed the core of Sikhism and elevated it to newer heights.
"Today is the day for Sikhs to renew our faith as we commemorate the Khalsa, alongside a request to attain spiritual enlightenment," said Taranjit Kaur, a Sikh youth who was at the temple today.