KUALA LUMPUR — A total of RM3.1 million has been allocated in the first phase of the Dharma Madani Programme to support 155 Hindu temples across the country.
According to the Human Resources Ministry, each temple will receive a financial grant of RM20,000 as part of the government’s ongoing effort to empower religious institutions within the Indian community.
In a statement today, the ministry said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously announced the Dharma Madani Programme in August 2025, providing a one-off financial grant of RM20 million to 1,000 registered Hindu temples nationwide.
This initiative is being carried out under the supervision of the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra), with the aim of enhancing the role of temples as pillars of community strength.
Today, Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan, presided over the ‘Meeting with Indian Community Leaders’, where he presented approval letters for the first phase of the programme to representatives from temple managements across the nation. The ceremony took place at the Main Hall of Perkeso Tower in Putrajaya.
The first phase saw the approval of 155 temples to receive financial assistance, with the list of recipients expected to be updated periodically on Mitra’s official website at www.mitra.gov.my
In addition, Ramanan announced that the Cabinet had agreed to transfer Mitra from the Prime Minister’s Department to the Human Resources ministry.
This restructuring aims to streamline the planning, implementation, and monitoring of initiatives for the Indian community, ensuring a more organised and effective approach in line with the government’s broader vision for human capital development under the Madani Government.
The Dharma Madani Programme reflects the government’s deep commitment to supporting religious institutions as vital components of community cohesion.
By strengthening these temples, the government hopes to foster greater unity and solidarity, with these institutions serving as a “Vaganam” — a Tamil term for a medium or tool that carries support — for community empowerment. – January 27, 2026