MULTI-PURPOSE HALL TO SERVE COMMUNITY

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH
metrose@thestar.com.my

Getting started: Abdul Ghani (on the machine wearing a white safety helmet) u conducting the groundbreaking ceremony.

TANGKAK: Johor has decided to build a RM1.25mil multi-purpose hall for the Indian community in the Ledang division here this year.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the hall project, located on a site in Ladang Tanah Merah, would start work next month.

Speaking to the Indian community, he said the state would also upgrade the dirt road leading to the hall if the plantation owner gave approval.

Although the state had bought the land, measuring about 4ha from the plantation owner, the road leading to the project belongs to the plantation.

“We bought the land not only for the hall but also for SJK Tamil Ladang Tanah Merah and a temple near the school,” he said before conducting a ground-breaking ceremony for the hall project recently.

Abdul Ghani, who was accompanied by Johor MIC chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan, said the state had allocated an initial sum of RM750,000 and the rest would be paid in stages.

He said the hall project, expected to be completed in one year’s time, would cater to the needs of some 8,000 Indians in the ledang Parliamentary.

Earlier, Ledang MIC division chairman A.K. Mooruhaya said the hall had a seating capacity of 1,500 people and also housed badminton courts and other indoor games.

“The community needs such a hall, especially for wedding ceremonies. Now we usually rent school halls and pay the school about RM3,000,” he said.

Besides organising activities, including sports, at the hall wecan also rent the hall to other parties, he said and added a specialcommittee would be set up to manage the hall.

SOURCE: THE STAR, MARCH 21, 2013