The Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) has announced that this year’s Thaipusam offerings from the donation box amounted to RM224,775. The collection including the donations from various temples and Golden chariot procession, will be used for temple development, education and community welfare initiatives.
Breakdown of The Offerings
Among the total collections, the Waterfall Hiltop Temple recorded a collection of RM103,391 while the Golden Chariot Procession added an amount of RM121,384 in cash and 6.01 grams of gold. The total gold offerings from devotees amounted to 33.81 grams. Foreign currency and other monetary items were not included in this count and it will be sent to banks for valuation.
These figures of the collection were shared by YB Kumaresan Aramugam, Ahli Dewan Negara Parlimen Malaysia, following the Thaipusam offerings collection activities that took place at Komtar. He expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Endowment Board for the overwhelming generosity of the devotees.
Transparency in Collection and Counting Process
The Thaipusam donation box (Undiyal) counting took place at Komtar and concluded successfully with nearly 90 volunteers, including PHEB staff, ensuring a transparent and efficient process. The collection and counting activities were closely monitored by officials from the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC) to maintain integrity and transparency. The Penang Endowments Board also went live on Facebook on that day to maintain their transparency.
A total of 59 volunteers from various government and non-government organizations participated in the counting, which was conducted from 8.30 AM to 2.30PM a couple of days ago. The final collection figures, including the foreign currencies and coins will be announced on PHEB’s official Facebook page soon.
Contributions Channeled Towards Education and Welfare
The PHEB remains steady on their mission to uplift the community through education and welfare support. A significant portion from the collected funds will be used for maintaining the temple and providing financial aid for students.
On 8th March 2025, financial assistance was extended to 7 degree and 6 diploma students, to support them with their academic burdens. Senator Dr. R.A Lingeshwaran emphasized PHEB’s commitment to empower students, reinforcing that since the new admission took over, nearling RM 1 Million has been allocated for education and welfare.
Dr. Lingeswaran also highlighted the importance of ensuring transparency in the fund management, reassuring devotees that their contributions would be utilized wisely and efficiently for a better community.
PHEB extends their deepest gratitude to all devotees and volunteers for their generous support and contributions. The collected funds will not just uphold the significance of Thaipusam but also make a huge impact on the community by fostering education and temple development.
Sources: PHEB , Lingesh RA , Vanakkam Malaysia
