Gurudwara Sahib Berjuntai Tin, Selangor

In the late 1950s, the tin mines at Sungei Bakau Rawang started to go out of business. The Sikhs who used to work in these tin mines as general workers or watchmen had to seek employment elsewhere. Most of these Sikhs ended up being employed by Berjuntai Tin Dredging Limited in Batang Berjuntai. At one time, there were nine tin dredges in operation in this area. Each group of Sikhs in the tin mines was led by a headman (known as a kepala). Some of the Sikh headmen were Sardar Bhag Singh, Sardar Malook Singh, Sardar Puran Singh, Sardar Maghar Singh, Sardar Jeet Singh and Sardar Inder Singh. At the nearby Socfin Estates, a Sikh contractor by the name of Sardar Inder Singh Demru employed many Sikhs. In 1963, these Sikhs approached the Manager of Berjuntai Tin Dredging Limited, Mr. Harrison, for assistance in building a Gurdwara Sahib for the Sikh community. The Berjuntai Tin Mining Management designated a one-acre piece of land to build the Sikh Gurdwara Sahib and also contributed towards its construction. This single storey wooden building with a zinc roof served the Sikhs' religious needs for the next 35 years. By 1999, the Gurdwara Sahib building was in a state of disrepair and was demolished on 12th April 2000. The Granthi, Baba Lall Singh, laid the foundation stone of the new Gurdwara Sahib building on 2' May 2000. This new single storey brick structure with a tiled roof was completed at a cost of RM105,000.00, of which RM3,000.00 was donated by the State Government. The President, Sardar Ranjit Singh and the Sangat declared the new Gurdwara Sahib building open on 17th December 2001. Baba Tul Singh Ji (Tehel Singh) "KhandhaWala" performed the duties of a Granthi in this Gurdwara Sahib from 1967 until his demise in 1971. He was a pious man who helped many individuals with their problems. Since the year 2002, the Sikh Sangat has been holding an Akhand Path in Baba Tul Singh Ji's memory, which is a yearly affair. The management committee comprises of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, their assistants and ten committee members. There are presently 16 Sikh families residing in this area who participate in the religious activities carried out in this Gurdwara Sahib. The weekly prayers are held on Sundays from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Courtesy: Sikh Gurudwaras in Malaysia&Singapore Saran Singh Sidhu AMN,PNM,FRNS