INTRODUCTION

Malaysia Hindu Sangam was the brainchild of the late Shri K. Paramalingam, KMN, a barrister who later served as the Director-General of the Public Trustee Department. The late Shri K. Ramanathan, a lawyer by profession and an ardent Hindu, greatly assisted him. Shri K. Ramanathan served as President of the Malaysian Indian Congress from 1950 to 1951 and was also the founder of the Malaysian Arulneri Thirukkuttam.

Encouraged and inspired by the learned and saintly Shri K. Ramanathan, Shri K. Paramalingam moved swiftly to gather a group of devout Hindus committed to serving the cause of Hinduism and society at large. As a result of his untiring efforts, Shri K. Paramalingam, Shri G. V. Thevar, Shri Hari Chand Saradha, Shri S. Palanivel Pillai and Shri S. Dhuraiappah met on 15 April 1963, at which meeting they formed an ad hoc committee.

The committee subsequently laid the groundwork for the establishment of a national organisation representing the Hindu community in Malaysia. In January 1965, the ad hoc committee organised a seminar bringing together representatives of Hindu organisations and leading temples at the famous Maha Mariamman Temple on High Street, now Jalan Tun H. S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur. At this meeting, the name Malaysia Hindu Sangam was adopted, and the organisation was officially registered on 23 January 1965.

OUR ROLE IN THE NATION

Malaysia Hindu Sangam is the organisation consulted by the Government of Malaysia on matters affecting the Hindu community in the country. It has also been a member of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) since 1984. The MCCBCHST comprises representatives of the principal non-Muslim faith communities in Malaysia and serves as a consultative and liaison body, promoting dialogue, understanding and cooperation among the religious communities.

Over the years, Malaysia Hindu Sangam has organised numerous national Hindu conferences, seminars, Antharyogams, and religious discussions, contributing significantly to the development of religious awareness and consciousness among Malaysian Hindus.