Apr 20 2008
Train your own priest la!
It is easy to say “train local people”. But the task is not easy as said because the infrastructure is not in place and red tapes causes many headache to start such programmes formally. The Sikhs would have to fund such training programs on their own.
Secondly, the local trained priest need to paid more, but it would provide savings in terms of importing foreigners. A bit of investment is needed to reduce reliance on foreigners. Who would want to work for nothing less than RM2000 nowadays especially for a highly skilled job and in view of ever increasing cost of living? Of course if one feels a natural calling to serve God, it would be a different story.
Najib urges Sikh community to train their own priests
By MANJIT KAUR
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sikh community has been urged to train local priests to reduce the dependency on those from India. Malaysian Gurdwaras Council secretary Malkith Singh said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told this to a council delegation that met him on Thursday.
He said the council had discussed many issues with Najib at the latter’s office, including help to purchase a RM1mil building in Sentul to replace the current single-room office at the Sikh Gurdwara in the area. The council also wants to establish a legal aid and counselling centre for Sikhs next month. Malkith Singh said it would be difficult for the community to train up local priests as it was faced with financial constraints.
Last night, the council hosted a Vaisakhi Dinner 2008 event at the HGH Convention Centre in Sentul. Najib, who was scheduled to attend, was represented by Deputy Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Hasan Malek .
Council president Jagir Singh, in his speech, said locals were not interested to become priests as salaries were low. “Local Sikh youths are not willing to work for a pay of RM700 to RM800. Furthermore, indepth training is required, and all Punjabi language schools are run on a voluntary basis without any grant from the Government,” he said.
It was announced earlier this week that the Cabinet had decided to approve and renew visas and permits for Hindu priests, musicians and artisans from India.
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