By Hasnah Jusid
JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 9 (Bernama) – From original ship tickets that brought the Indian community to Malaya, to rubber-tapping tools and land documents over 100 years old, a variety of historical treasures belonging to the Indian community have become a tourist attraction at the Indian Heritage Centre here.
Located within the grounds of the 115-year-old Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam Temple, the heritage centre inaugurated in 2023 serves as an attraction that highlights the history of the Indian community’s arrival, their way of life, and their culture.
The temple’s treasurer, Murali Samy, said the centre, which receives an average of 100 visitors daily, is managed entirely by the temple administration and most of the items on display are authentic artifacts donated by the Indian community, ensuring that their history and identity are preserved.
He noted that among the compelling exhibits are tickets for the ships SS Rajula and MV Chidambaram, which were used to transport Indians to Malaya via the port of Penang, before they migrated to other states for work including in rubber estates.
“The centre also showcases various authentic items donated by the community itself, including rubber-tapping tools, machines for producing rubber sheets, goldsmithing equipment, as well as money chests and transaction records belonging to the Chettiar community,” he told Bernama when met recently.
Visitors also have the opportunity to view traditional cooking utensils, musical instruments, and various types of *thaali* which are wedding necklaces worn within the Hindu community which illustrate the cultural diversity and the way of life of the Indian community in the past.
Murali said among the valuable documents on display are the land grant and the Johor State Government gazette concerning the temple site granted by the late Sultan Sir Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abu Bakar in 1911 for the purpose of constructing a place of worship for the Hindu community.
Regarding management, Murali noted that the temple has achieved a milestone by becoming the first Hindu temple in Malaysia to receive ISO 9001 certification via SIRIM in 2024 and it is also equipped with cashless payment kiosks to facilitate donations and the purchase of items by visitors.
He added that other attractions at the temple include three religious chariots one of which is gold-plated used to transport deity idols during religious processions.
The temple is situated along Jalan Trus in the heart of Johor Bahru city an area known as the "Street of Harmony" which is renowned for its collection of historic places of worship belonging to various faiths, serving as a symbol of the harmony and cultural diversity of the state’s society.
In addition to this temple, four other places of worship are located in the area are the Masjid India Dato’ Ahmad Awang, the Old Chinese Temple of Johor, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and the Gurdwara Sahib some of which have existed for over a century.
– BERNAMA