KUALA LUMPUR, July 29, 2013: People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas urged the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam to show greater transparency in managing Batu Caves and other temples under their jurisdiction.

According to Kayveas, the Malaysia Hindu Sangam was seeking political support to back them in their call for the Batu Caves temple committee to be transparent in their management of the Batu Caves temple.

“As long it is a public matter, we can throw our support behind the Hindu Sangam,” said Kayveas. “I’m not interested in who runs the committee, but how they manage the temples under their jurisdiction.”

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam currently manages the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves, Kottumalai Pillaiyar Temple in Pudu and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun HS Lee.

Last week, The Star reported that several Indian NGOs were unhappy with how the three temples in Klang Valley were being managed and expressed a willingness to work with any party to bring about changes.

They claimed that a change was needed in the current committee to promote good governance and better transparency in the management of the Batu Caves temple.

“Batu Caves is an important tourist destination. It is our heritage and national pride but the way things are being run, maybe it is time for a change. What was good in the old days may no longer be relevant today,” said Kayveas.

As an example, Kayveas suggested that businesses and eateries within the Batu Caves compound be relocated to the perimeters of the area.

“To me, we should maintain Batu Caves purely as a place of worship. Businesses can be located outside the Batu Caves entrance,” he said.

He added that he felt embarrassed during the Thaipusam whereby stalls which allowed to be set up in the temple compound played loud and inappropriate cinema songs.

Source: Free Malaysia Today, DT. July 29, 2013.