MARAN: The management committee of the famed Sri Marathandavar Aalayam temple in Sungai Jerik here has been de-registered by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for the third time since 2014.
Sources said alleged financial irregularities and accounting discrepancies had prompted RoS to take the measure through an order notice dated Aug 15.
The de-registration of the management committee was done per Section 13 (1)(c)(ix) of the Societies Act 1966.
Sources said the temple’s management committee had been de-registered in July 2014 and Dec 2016 respectively, but was subsequently reinstated after the temple agreed to adhere to RoS’s instructions.
“However, failure by the management to provide satisfactory explanations, including implementing measures to manage its accounts separately and improving their financial management has left RoS with no choice, but to deregister the committee.”
Documents seen by the New Straits Times show that the temple had failed to abide by clause 17(c), 17(k) and 16(e)(iii) of its constitution, which covers matters related to financial provisions.
It is learnt that an interim committee consisting of several experts will be set up by the end of this week to carry out the tasks and responsibilities of the deregistered temple committee.
Checks revealed that the daily prayers were being conducted as usual.
Efforts to get RoS to comment proved futile while Pahang MIC chairman V. Arumugam said he was informed that the temple committee would file an appeal to RoS.
The 128-year-old Sri Marathandavar temple attracts more than 500,000 Hindu devotees during the annual Pangguni Uthiram festival.
Several months ago, it was alleged that several foreign workers were picked up by the Immigration Department after they were caught working at the premises illegally.
In 2017, a move by the RoS to deregister the temple’s management committee sparked rumours that the place of worship was set to be demolished.