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Vivekananda Trustees want to discuss with Minister Nazri so court case today postponed

On 28th October 2015 the Minister of Tourism announced that the Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields, KL will be gazetted as a national Heritage site. Malaysians of all walks of life rejoiced with this decision.

While thanking the Minister for making the decision, although the Trustees had objected and had appealed to the Minister. I had also asked the Government to look into ways to assist the Ashram financially for it to be viable in the long run.

But, unfortunately the Trustees had appealed to the High Court to quash (cancel) the decision of gazetting the said area as a Heritage site.

The decision to appeal is most unfortunate as it is being the proposed building of 23 storey residential tower with 264 units and a 8 storey car park. This commercial development will erase the Vivekananda site as a icon site ideally located in the Brickfields area.

Today the matter came up at the KL High Court before Justice Asmabee for leave application by the Trustees lawyer David Gurupatham. It was adjourned as the Trustees lawyer informed the Court that the Trustees will be meeting Minister Nazri in asking him to reconsider the decision to confer heritage status and allow some for of development on the site. Apparently the Trustees will be meeting Nazri after the 23 of January as he is away overseas now.

I am most disappointed the Trustees are more concerned about commercial gains in developing this site. They have openly said if development takes place, over RM60 million can be made as profit. Apparently they need monies to fund the SJKT Vivekananda PJ, SJKT Vivekananda and SJKT Tamboosamy Sentul. But the Government provides enough funds yearly. Apparently the government provided RM6 million last year and the public would like to know how these monies were spent?

People are also asking why membership of the Ashram is very limited? As the public has donated to building and running of the Ashram it should admit new members freely. By restricting membership it goes to show the Trustees only want “yes man” as members!

The “Save Vivekananda Campaign” has netted over 100 thousand people who have signed petition to reject any development. But this objections has fallen into deaf ears. Even Mr. Rajasingham, the owner of Brickfields Asia Law College offered to donate RM1 million so as to keep the Ashram intact.

The Trustees should organize events to emulate what Vivekananda had been advocating for the world. The Ashram is too quiet. The Trustees should leave it to those who can give life to the Ashram. Yesterday was Vivekananda’s 153rd birthday and the Trustees should have had a grand event.

Swami Vivekananda once said “If money help a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better”.

It is in the best interest of all for the present Trustees to resign and let it be managed by people who have the heart, soul and thinking of Vivekanda’s progressive thinking.