AS one of the three new faces, Datuk Selvakumar Shanmugam Chetty is looking forward to sharing his experience with the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB).
Selvakumar, who is the chief executive officer of Shan Poornam Metals Sdn Bhd, was appointed as the new PHEB commissioner this year (Jan 1 – Dec 31). The other two new faces were Malaysia Hindu Sangam national honorary treasurer Munanday Manikam and Penang Immigration Department deputy director Arvind Poobalan.
Thirteen people have been appointed as PHEB commissioners for the 2023 term. Ten out of 13 were re-appointed, while three were new faces.
Selvakumar said he would be able to help PHEB by seeing things from a different perspective using his experience as a businessman.
“I will perform my best as a PHEB commissioner according to the direction of the Board,” he said.
When asked what his interest was, he replied, to improve education among Indian students.
“Education is extremely important. If we can improve education among Indian students, help non-performing students and keep students from dropping out, the next generation will be different,” he said after accepting his appointment in Komtar today.
Munanday said he hoped he could assist in issues concerning Hindu temples in Penang.
The other PHEB commissioners were Deputy Chief Minister II Prof Dr P. Ramasamy, Bagan Dalam assemblyman Satees Muniandy, Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer, Jordan Lee & Jaafar (PG) Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Seri Kuvenaraju Pachappen, lawyer Datuk Murelidaran Navaratnam, Taman Brown JKKK chairman Santha Muthu, Aspen Group managing director Anilarasu Amaranazan, Jade Micron Pte Ltd (Singapore) sales and services manager Kaliyappan Renganathan, Flextronics Technology (Penang) Sdn Bhd context test engineer Thanabalan Nanda Kumar, and Kamdar Sdn Bhd (operations and human resources) general manager Datuk Jugal Kishor Shivlal.
Ramasamy said the first Board meeting would be held very soon.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar