By Iva Karen
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept : Businesswoman V. Regina Marie has alleged that her membership at a Hindu temple in Air Panas, Setapak has been unfairly revoked.
According to Regina, her membership cessation came after she sought an explanation from the temple management over an incident involving a temple trustee.
The 48-year-old said she had been involved with and served the temple for about 30 years, since 1995, and had contributed her time, effort and financial support to various temple activities.
The mother of three also said she had donated and sponsored numerous temple programmes and personally participated in three Kumbhabhishekam ceremonies, including providing financial support and sponsorship.
“I was married to a Hindu in 1997 and have practised Hinduism throughout my married life. My children and family have also been brought up practising the Hindu faith. I have only recently suffered the heart-breaking loss of my child.
“During this most difficult time, all the final rites and rituals for my child were conducted according to Hindu traditions, and members of the temple management themselves came and witnessed these rituals.
“Therefore, it is deeply painful and extremely sad that, while I am still grieving the loss of my child, my religion is now being questioned by the very management of a Hindu temple. This has caused me great disappointment and heartbreak,” she said emotionally.
She further said that she was accepted as a member in 2023 and was nominated to serve on the temple committee at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
“If my religious status was an issue, why was I accepted as a member and nominated to serve on the committee? Why is my religion being questioned only now, after all these years?” she asked.
Regina explained that she received a notice from the temple chairman on Aug 26 informing her that her membership had allegedly been revoked.
She claimed the matter began after an incident occurred in front of the temple on June 14, 2026, which she alleged involved an assault and misbehaviour involving a temple trustee, whom she identified as a politician, and the trustee’s wife.
Following the incident, Regina lodged a police report at the Setapak Police Station the following day, after which the matter was investigated by the Wangsa Maju District Police Headquarters.
“The case has since been brought before the court. However, despite the seriousness of the incident and the fact that it allegedly occurred openly in the presence of temple members, trustees and members of the public, the temple management has failed to take any apparent action or lodge a police report regarding the incident. This raises serious questions as to why the temple management has remained silent and failed to act on such a serious matter.
“I have submitted a complaint to the temple management committee on June 17, asking for clarification and action over the incident since it took place openly in front of temple members and trustees who were present and may have witnessed what happened,” she said.
Regina said she sent a second reminder to the management committee on June 26 as she had not received an answer to her earlier complaint. She also alleged that she had sent a third reminder to the management committee on Sep 2.
She claimed that despite the complaint and three reminders, she had not received any written explanation or information on whether action had been taken against the trustee concerned.
She now alleges that the questioning of her religious eligibility and the revocation of her membership came after she repeatedly sought answers from the management committee about the June 14 incident.
Regina said she wanted the management committee to explain the reason for revoking her membership and clarify whether her Christian status was a factor in the decision.
“I only want the management committee to explain why my religious eligibility is being questioned now, after I have served and supported this temple for about 30 years and after I was accepted as a member in 2023,” she said.
She said she was prepared to pursue the matter through the appropriate channels if she could not obtain a satisfactory explanation from the temple management.
Meanwhile, when contacted by the media, the temple chairman, Thuraichamy Ramiah, confirmed the notice of cessation but refused to comment further.
–WE