Perak Gurudwara Sahib Kuala Kangsar, Perak

By the end of the 19th Century, there were only a few Sikhs residing in Kuala Kangsar. Most of them were self-employed while a few of them were in the Government Service or with the Police Force. These Sikhs built their first Gurdwara Sahib in Kuala Kangsar at No. 7B Jalan Taiping in 1890. This Gurdwara Sahib was a single storey wooden structure with an attap roof. This building was repaired and renovated several times and the roof was changed to asbestos sheets. This Gurdwara Sahib building was vacated in 1954 when the present Gurdwara Sahib was completed. This old building still exists and it is presently rented out. The income received is used to upkeep the present Gurdwara Sahib. The Khalsa Boarding School was opened in Kuala Kangsar in 1910 under the sponsorship of the Khalsa Diwan Malaya. Two well known parcharaks i.e. Ragi Bhai Pall Singh Ji (Village Noorpur Jetan,Kapurthala) and Ragi Bhai Bhadan Singh Ji (Village Jatikae, Kapurthala) were from Kuala Kangsar. Both these percharaks served in this Gurdwara Sahib between the 1910's to 1940's. They olso used to do perchar in other town in Malaya under the auspicies of the Khalsa Diwan Malaya. In 1954, the Sikh Sangat acquired the present site of the Gurdwara Sahib, which is 0.921 acres. Dr. Jaggat Singh of Penang laid the foundation stone of the present Gurdwara Sahib on 26th March 1954. Sardar Bhagwan Singh (brother in law of Dr. Jaggat Singh) officially declared the completed Gurdwara Sahib building open in late 1954. The cost of this single storey brick building came to Malayan $25,000.00 out of which Dr. Jaggat Singh donated $2,000.00. There is one room available for use by Sikh visitors. However, prior confirmation must be obtained from the President or Secretary. The Management Committee comprises of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, their assistants and five committee members. The present Trustees of this Gurdwara Sahib are Sardar Surjan Singh and Sardar Naranjan Singh. There are presently about 40 Sikh families, who reside around the Kuala Kangsar area, who participate in the religious activities held in this Gurdwara Sahib. The normal weekly prayer is held on Sunday morning at 8.00a.m to 9.00a.m. Courtesy: Sikh Gurudwaras in Malaysia&Singapore Saran Singh Sidhu AMN,PNM,FRNS