As Johor heads toward its next state election, the Indian community faces an important question: which leadership has consistently delivered tangible results rather than promises?

The recent opening of the Sri Maha Muniswarar Hall in Ulu Tiram by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi provides a compelling answer.

Beyond political speeches and campaign slogans, it demonstrates the value of leadership that follows through on commitments and addresses long-standing community needs.

From Abandoned Project to Community Landmark

Construction of the Sri Maha Muniswarar Hall began in 1999 but faced repeated delays and was eventually left abandoned by 2016.

In 2022, Onn Hafiz visited the neglected site and approved RM500,000 to restart construction.

Today, the completed hall stands as a modern facility that serves the community through educational programmes, weddings, welfare activities, and cultural events.

For many local Indian community leaders, the hall represents more than a building—it is evidence that the Johor state government under Barisan Nasional (BN) is willing to listen and respond to grassroots concerns.

Supporting Education and Preserving Dignity

Education remains one of the highest priorities for the Indian community. Under Onn Hafiz’s administration, Johor approved two new Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) schools—SJKT Impian Emas and SJKT Taman Universiti—at a time when approvals for new Tamil schools have been limited nationwide.

Equally significant is the progress made in providing dignified facilities for Hindu final rites. The state allocated RM1.9 million for the Kompleks Upacara Terakhir Hindu in Kampung Telok Jawa, with land granted by the Sultan of Johor. The complex includes a crematorium serving the Tebrau and Pasir Gudang areas and was officially opened by Onn Hafiz on 1 June 2026.

In addition, 17 Hindu temple land approvals have been granted across Johor, helping address longstanding concerns over land security and legal recognition for places of worship.

The state government has also continued assistance programmes such as Bantuan Kasih Johor and food basket initiatives, providing support to families facing rising living costs.

Promises Versus Performance

For many years, issues affecting the Indian community—including Tamil school development, temple land status, and proper burial and cremation facilities—featured prominently in opposition campaigns and political rhetoric.

However, when Pakatan Harapan (PH) governed Johor between May 2018 and March 2020, progress on many of these longstanding concerns remained limited. No new Tamil schools were approved, temple land issues remained unresolved, and major community facilities saw little movement.

The abandoned Ulu Tiram hall itself remained untouched until funding and political commitment were provided by the current administration in 2022.

Similar concerns have been raised in other PH-governed states. Despite years in power, issues involving temple land, Tamil school maintenance, and community infrastructure have often remained subject to prolonged administrative processes and delays.

By contrast, supporters of the current Johor administration point to measurable outcomes achieved within a relatively short period: two new SJKTs approved, RM1.9 million secured for the Hindu final rites complex, and 17 temple land approvals granted statewide.

These are not campaign promises. They are projects that have moved from paperwork to reality.

Why Stability Matters

State elections are often decided by local issues that directly affect people’s daily lives. Matters such as temple land titles, Tamil school development, cemetery gazettement, and crematorium facilities require administrative continuity and effective state-level execution.

The current Johor administration has demonstrated its ability to move these projects forward. Changing direction now could risk slowing momentum on initiatives that are already benefiting the community.

The opening of the Sri Maha Muniswarar Hall serves as a reminder that meaningful progress is possible when government agencies and local communities work together.

For Johor Indians, support for Onn Hafiz and BN need not be viewed solely through the lens of party politics. Rather, it can be seen as support for ongoing initiatives that have already delivered visible outcomes—better educational opportunities for future generations and dignified facilities that serve families during life’s most important moments.

Authored by R. Muralitharan, Political Writer, Observer, and Vice President of Parti Cinta Malaysia.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or position of Press KL.