Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia has recently been provided with the annual returns of the Vivekananda Ashram Kuala Lumpur that were filed in February 2014 by members of the public who are outraged that there may be an element of wrongdoing in the proposed plans by the board of trustees to develop the said Ashram into a 23-storey residential tower with 264 units and an eight-storey car park.

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia, which serves the public and is a guardian against any injustices committed against the community, feels compelled to raise this matter with the relevant authorities in the larger interest of the general public and in the noble attempt to safeguard our national heritage and the contributions of our forefathers to this country.

It appears in the returns that one Mr Vignesh Naidu was the honorary treasurer at that material time.

We have also been provided with a copy of the developer’s F3 Capital Sdn Bhd’s corporate information wherein it appears the same Mr Vignesh Naidu is one of the shareholders since April 2, 2004.

Bearing in mind the fact that the Swami Vivekananda Ashram is an organisation limited by guarantee and its original purposes (believed) were to conduct its affairs for the benefit of the public, it is important for the Malaysian Ant-Corruption Commission (MACC) to intervene and conduct an investigation whether there are any elements of corruption/criminal breach of trust/or conflict of interests involved in the proposed development undertaken by the Swami Vivekananda Ashram management.

The public is now questioning the whole nature on the tender process, the transparency as well as the operation of the trustees in proposing to redevelop as well as the rejection to be gazetted as a heritage site as announced by the tourism and culture minister.

It is encouraging that the said tourism and culture minister has now stepped forward to halt any such development after the public outrage with the planned development of the heritage site.

In these circumstances, in the best interest of public and bearing the fact that a national heritage site is under threat, Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia urges the MACC to conduct necessary investigations to ensure no malfeasances by any members/ committee of the trustees had occurred in pursuing their objectives as the trustees for the organisation and that they had at all times acted in the original intentions of the said trust public and interest of the public.

Further, besides any drive to seek public donations, since the Swami Vivekananda Ashram is recognised as a national heritage, we would also urge the tourism minister to immediately pledge RM5.0 million towards a trust fund that can be utilised to ensure the conversation and protection of the Swami Vivekananda Ashram.

P WAYTHAMOORTHY is chairperson of Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia.