Putrajaya temple project planned 10 years ago

The Hindu temple project in Presint 20, Putrajaya is expected to kick start this September. A proposal for the project was made a decade ago by Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the intial planning of the administrative capital. Speaking to Astro Awani yesterday, Samy Vellu (pic) said he had requested for the temple to built as reflection of the multicultural society in Malaysia. An acre of land was allocated for the project as agreed by the then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir. A committee was specially formed for this project, which is expected to be completed in mid 2015. “The temple will be built at an estimated cost of RM12 million but we hope to complete it within RM7 million,” said Samy Vellu. Initially the plan for the temple included a 90-metre ‘Goburum’ (tower) which would have been the tallest in the world. But it was rejected and a 15-metre ‘Goburum’ was approved. Meanwhile, the temple’s Deputy President Dr. KV Rao said the temple will have some Orrisa and Madhya Pradesh touch to it. He added the temple would also become another tourist attraction in Putrajaya. The temple is named Sri Lalithambikai Alayam by the Hindu Sanggam with Goddess Amman being the main God. “About 20 pillars from an existing temple in India will be brought here to be placed in this temple for an extra spiritual vibration,” said Rao. The ground-breaking ceremony for the temple is expected to be held in March and construction works are scheduled to begin in September It was reported in Bernama that Universal Society of Hinduism president Rajan Zed from Nevada, United States applauded the efforts of community and project leaders to see the realisation of the temple in Putrajaya. Zed hope that Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would provide government funding for the temple complex and called on Malaysian Hindus to come forward with donations for the building.