KUALA LUMPUR, 29 April 2026 (The Capital Post) — YB Senator Saraswathy Kandasami has publicly declined an invitation to attend a cheque presentation ceremony under the “Dharma Madani” programme, raising concerns over what she described as a deviation from its original vision as the initiative continues to roll out nationwide.
Her decision comes in response to a recent official event organised by the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA), where funds were distributed to Hindu temples as part of the programme’s second phase.
According to official reports, the ceremony involved the disbursement of RM6 million to 300 temples, forming part of a larger RM20 million allocation for 1,000 temples nationwide, with each temple receiving RM20,000.
The event was attended by Human Resources Minister YB Datuk Seri R. Ramanan and MITRA leadership, marking a key milestone in the programme’s ongoing implementation.
In a statement shared on social media, Saraswathy confirmed that she had been invited to attend the ceremony but chose not to be present “in good conscience.”
“My decision is based on principle and on the need to preserve the truth about the original vision of this initiative,” she said.
Saraswathy, who previously served as the Deputy Minister of Ministry of National Unity, explained that the programme was initially conceived as a long-term community development effort under the theme “Empowering Hindu Temples as Community Centres.” The initiative aimed to transform temples into hubs for education, skills training, welfare services, youth development, and broader socioeconomic upliftment within the Indian community.
However, she claimed that the current implementation as seen in the cheque distribution event reflects a shift towards a one-off cash aid model, diverging from its intended transformational framework.
“This programme was never intended to be merely a one-off cash distribution exercise,” she stressed.
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The senator revealed that the initiative had previously undergone structured planning at the ministry level, including stakeholder engagement with organisations such as Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Hindu Dharma Maamandram, the Hindu Lawyers Association, and Tara Foundation. She added that the programme had received Cabinet endorsement and funding approval of RM20 million through MITRA.
According to Saraswathy, a dedicated implementation committee had already been established by mid September 2025, with detailed guidelines, inter-ministerial coordination, and participation from hundreds of temples.
Despite these preparations, she alleged that the programme’s direction was later altered into a direct payment mechanism of RM20,000 per temple a move she said does not align with the Cabinet approved mandate.
“As Chairman of the relevant committee within the Ministry, I registered my strongest objection to this deviation. Unfortunately, these objections were not given due consideration,” she said, adding that the Ministry eventually withdrew as the implementation no longer reflected the original framework.
While reiterating her support for financial assistance to temples, Saraswathy emphasised that such aid should be channelled through separate allocations rather than funds intended for long term community transformation.
“Temples deserve support where required. However, such assistance should not come at the expense of broader socioeconomic development goals,” she said.
The Dharma Madani initiative, introduced under the Malaysia Madani framework, was designed to strengthen the role of temples as grassroots community institutions, including promoting education, cultural programmes, and youth engagement.
Saraswathy concluded by warning that the programme risks losing its long-term impact if its original objectives are not preserved.
“History will judge whether short-term visibility was chosen over lasting transformation,” she added. – The Capital Post
