Our Ref : mmsmmt/01/10 Your Ref : 06 July 2010

On behalf of the Temple Committee of the oldest and most unique Hindu Temple in Malaysia, I have the honour of forwarding a brief history of the temple with photos of the temple and its surroundings for your information and kind attention. The cost of restoration and renovation works of the Temple had topped RM 500,000 and another RM 300,000 is now needed for the remaining works and to provide for the infrastructure cost and consecration ceremony expenses. The restoration work would not have been possible without the strong support of the small local Hindu population (less than 10,000), the authorities and the magnanimity of other racial groups in Sarawak Therefore, we are appealing for the need for solidarity from our Hindu brothers and sisters and well wishers in Peninsular Malaysia to give us your kind support to complete the Temple, the only one of its kind in Malaysia, by contributing a minimum sum of RM 10.00 directly into the temples saving A/c as follows:~ EON BANK BHD Acc No: 2002-20-003118-4 SRI MAHA MARIAMMAN TEMPLE, MOUNT MATANG KUCHING Yours Truly in the Service of Sri Maha Mariamman (AREPITRI ARNASALAM) CO-ORDINATOR 6 July 2010 Note : Please treat the teller machines deposit receipt as an official receipt for your donation. However, if the Temples Official Receipt is needed, please fax or email us a copy of the Bank in slip with name, address and phone contact written on it Tel/fax :082-233267 during office hours

BRIEF SUMMARY ON THE HISTORY OF MOUNT MATANG SRI MAHA MARIAMMAN TEMPLE The Temple built during the era of the Second White Rajah of Sarawak, Sir Charles Brooke in the 1860s by Tea Plantation workers from South India, is suppose to be the only abode of Sri Maha Mariamman in South East Asia, which is made of belian timber(iron wood), located on a 1,000 feet height on a mountain slope with pyramid shaped gopuram. The distant of the Temple is about 3 km from the foot of the mountain and would take an hour to reach. One who visit the Temple would experience the cool and congenial atmosphere at the upper slopes of the mountain, panoramic view of the Matang plains and other landscape below and the 1800 Century Craftsmanship on belian timber which houses the Sri Maha Mariamman Deity. BRIEF HISTORY Some 2000 feet up, the site chosen at the slopes of Gunung Matang provided ideal terrain for tea growing and setting of a hill retreat for the Second Rajah of Sarawak. The Rajah then allowed the entry of Indian plantation workers to be employed at the tea plantation. It is estimated that close to 1,000 Indian workers were engaged when the plantation were thriving. British were known to be tea lovers who maintained their social habits in the colonies. The tea plantation were also of particular interest because they helped support an aristocratic British social life and lifestyle on the hill, where Rajah Charles had built a bungalow within the tea estate for him and the Rani named Vallembrosa. One of the buildings at the tea and coffee plantation which has remained more or less intact after more than 90 years was a Hindu temple built by Indian plantation workers and was dedicated to the Goddess Sri Maha Mariamman.

The Hindu Temple Built in 1860 Rediscovered in 1967 The temple was the earliest known Hindu Shrine in Sarawak and was rediscovered in 1967, after being abandoned by the Indian workers since the tea plantation were closed in 1912. It was over grown with trees and creepers. Since 1967, for the last 40 over years efforts have been made by the Hindu Communities in Kuching to maintain the sacred shrine, its surroundings and the road leading to the temple.

The Temple Upon Kumba Abishegam in 1970

TEMPLE LOCATED AT 1,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL ON THE SLOPE OF GUNUNG MATANG KUCHING, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

AERIAL VIEW OF THE TEMPLE UNDER CONSTURCTION WHICH IS 3 KM FROM THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN

NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TEMPLE AVAITING FOR CONSECRATION CEREMONY

108 STEPS TO THE TEMPLE AFTER THE 3KM DISTANCE FROM THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN

ARTHAMANDABAM & MOOLASTANAM

MAIN ENTRANCE

FRONT VIEW