<< Ground-breaking: Tan (second from left) officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony of the new Bandar Utama Buddhist Society centre at Jalan BU 3/1. He is joined by (from left) Ven. B. Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero, Chiam, Ven. Ming Ji, Nijhar and Tang.  Photos by BRIAN MOH

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said this at the ground-breaking ceremony of the new Bandar Utama Buddhist Society (BUBS) centre at Jalan BU 3/1 on Saturday.

“I am pleased that residents of Bandar Utama have taken the initiative to set up this society,” he said.

According to Tan, the new centre would form part of the community services facilities available to all residents in the area.

BUBS president Chiam Swee Ann said the estimated cost of the building was RM5.5mil and they had raised about RM3mil so far.

To raise funds for the centre with a total built-up area of 30,000 sq ft, the society had several activities like a gala dinner and charity golf tournament lined up.

The building is expected to be completed in two years.

The BUBS currently runs its activities, like the Sunday Dhamma school, talks, meditation and chanting sessions, at two units of double-storey terrace houses in Jalan BU 11/16.

During the ceremony, BUBS spiritual adviser Ven. B. Sri Saranankara Nayaka Maha Thero, Ven. Ming Ji from Kwan Inn Teng temple and Nima Tashi Rinpoche from Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia each recited a prayer to bless the new centre. 

Also present at the event were State executive councillor Datuk Tang See Hang, Subang MP Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar, Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying, Damansara Utama assemblyman Datuk Lim Choon Kin and Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Victor Wee.

For more information on the society, visit its website at www.parami.org/bubs.

To make a donation, call Chiam at 012-329 0183 or Jeffrey Low at 012-335 3803.