MIRI: About 1,000 Hindus in Miri, including many professionals, may soon get a RM 1.5 million temple and complex here in northern Sarawak after the US-based Universal Society of Hinduism (USH) gave the Miri Hindu Society’s (MHS) fund-raising efforts a boost by issuing a worldwide call for help.
The Nevada-based USH, headed by Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, has urged Hindus worldwide to help raise a Hindu temple complex in Miri.
“It was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst the so many distractions of a consumerist society,” said Rajan in a statement on the worldwide call. “A temple could play an effective role in this direction.”
Rajan also called upon Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Chief Minister Adenan Satem and Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai Yew Son to help support the temple building project. The Sarawak Government has already approved a piece of land at Taman Tunku for the temple.
Others who could assist, noted Rajan, would be the petroleum and natural gas, timber processing, oil palm and shipbuilding industries in northern Sarawak.
The Hindu statesman urged the Hindu community and its leaders in Miri, led by the Miri Hindu Society, to continue with their efforts to realize the Hindu temple.
The Miri Hindu Society, which believes in “fostering the spirit of devotion, dedication and worship”, will remain the principal fund-raising effort for the temple. It has already collected RM 100,000 so far and is planning to hold a concert on August 10 at the Meritz Hotel to raise another RM 150,000, according to MHS chairman G. Selvaraj.
The society stages the Hindu “Milk Pot Procession” every year.
Miri, the birthplace of the country’s petroleum industry, is also noted for the San Ching Tian Taoist Temple, the world-famous Gunung Mulu National Park, Petroleum Museum, and exotic coral reefs
It has one of the five busiest airports in the country.