Board of trustees allays fears on demolition of Brickfields ashram

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — The board of trustees of the Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfields has dismissed accusations made against it earlier yesterday, following a tense stand-off between its members and protesters.

Speaking to the media following the 95th annual general meeting, secretary M. Pasupathi said the board sought to create sustained funding for all four schools under its wing and turn them into trust schools.

These are Vivekananda Primary School in Brickfields, SJK(T) Thambusamy, Vivekananda PJ and Vivekananda High School in Petaling Jaya.

“There has been a lot of misunderstanding over what the project is about. It was never our intention to demolish the ashram building,” he said.

The four schools will require RM4 million to RM5 million annually to remain in operation. “Currently, Vivekananda Primary School has been resolved for this year,” said Pasupathi.

For this, a development project for a 23-storey condominium has been proposed.

“This project will be constructed behind the ashram grounds, on the site of the old civil servants’ quarters,” said treasurer G. Thiruselvam, allaying fears that it would be constructed above the ashram.

“Tamil vernacular schools do not receive the same level of funding other schools do,” said committee member Sri Skanda Rajah.

He acknowledged the trustees were not developers, which was why they sought out proper ones.

“I would be more than willing to discuss with anyone who could fully guarantee continuing funding for the schools.”

As to claims the ashram had been unfairly closed to the public for over 10 years, Sri Skanda said: “Up until the 1970s, the building was indeed used by various organisations, such as the Temple of Fine Arts. Now that it has much better facilities than it did in previous years, it is sensible to preserve the ashram,” adding that they were planning to use it as a museum dedicated to Sri Vivekananda, the renowned 19th century Hindu reformer. 

However, any move to proceed could only commence once the board has resolved the ongoing court case seeking a judicial review of Kuala Lumpur City Hall gazetting the ashram as a heritage site.

As a heritage site, no development or large-scale construction can take place within and around the ashram’s grounds.

“Once the judicial review has been resolved, we will call for an extraordinary general meeting to decide upon the next course of action,” said Pasupathi, adding that it would most likely take place in the next coming three months or so.