Kuching Indians seek more fund to complete hall

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STILL SHORT OF FUND: Kohilan (third right), Anthony (second left) and others during a visit to the Indian Association Kuching’s Hall that requires another half a million to meet the total project cost.

KUCHING: The Kuching Indian Association’s Hall, poised to be the first and only proper facility for the Indian community here, is 85 per cent completed.

Located behind the Hindu temple at Rock Road, the hall was initially expected to be completed in May last year.

Indian Association Kuching president Anthony Ramanair said the association still falls short of half a million ringgit to meet the total project cost of RM2 million, necessitating it to raise more funds in order to complete the hall as soon as possible.

He said he was grateful that the prime minister had pledged to grant RM500,000 to the project early last year.

“After the fund promised by the prime minister, we did write to the Chief Minister’s Department to ask for state allocation,” he said when Deputy Foreign Minister A Kohilan Pillay visited the project site here yesterday.

Anthony, who is a councillor of Padawan Municipal Council, said the formal request was put to the state government last April.

However up to yesterday, the association has yet to hear any news from the state government, he said.

Anthony said the Indian community, numbering about 6,000 in the city, had not been neglected by the government.

On the one-year delay in completion, he said the association had waited 25 years to see the project through and another year or two would not hurt.

“This will be a multi-purpose hall for everyone not only the Indian community. The hall offers three badminton courts and can be a venue for gathering, wedding and other activities.”

Asked when the association wanted to see the hall in use, he said.

“It all depends on whether we can raise the money.”

To this, Kohilan promised to bring the matter to federal authorities.

Pledging so, he also hoped the Indian community here would fully support the BN candidates on April 16.

“Give a strong mandate to the state BN, which has never neglected Indians. You can see temples and amenities provided for Indians.

“As for the half a million to meet the project cost, I will bring this to PM’s attention so that it will be included in this year’s budget. Do stay calm and united,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Tamil speaking Indians will be celebrating their New Year today.

The Indian Association Kuching wished all Tamils a Happy New Year.