Vivekananda Ashram is a National heritage that cannot and should not be developed for commercial purposes

Press Statement by M. Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat in Parliament house on 27Th November 2014

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Vivekananda Ashram is a National heritage that cannot and should not be developed for commercial purposes

 

Yesterday,  a group of leaders comprising M/s Dewa Kunjeeri Tun Sambathan ,daughter of the late tun Sambathan ( former Cabinet minister ),  SitpahSelvaratnam (lawyer), Rajasingham (Brickfields college), Dr Chris Nicholas (accountant ) called over the Parliament House to meet the Minister of Culture and Tourism YB Datuk Nazri to discuss about the status of Vivekananda Ashram  .

Those present at the meeting included myself, YB Fong Kui Lun (MP for Bukit Bintang) and YB Sim Tong Him  (MP for Kota Melaka ) and Heritage Department officials.

A memorandum objecting the development of VivekanandaAshram was presented to the Minister. (See attachment).

It is commendable that the group has put in a lot of efforts to come up with very articulate, valid and convincing arguments.

On Nov 17, Datuk Nazri had announced in Parliament his ministry’s decision to declare Vivekananda Ashram as a heritage site.

Dato Nazri assured he will do all within his powers to declare the Ashram as a National Heritage site. A welcome move by a bold Minister in view of stubbornness by the trustees to develop the area. 

Historical and old buildings need to be preserved to showcase the communities and leaders connection and contributions to the past. Little India In KL has no meaning if this area is developed. The tranquility and serenity of the area will be erased forever and this place will become a "concrete jungle".  "Concrete Jungle" will  be disastrous to attract tourist to this area. The development is totally illogical , unreasonable and against the communities wishes. 

It should also be clear to the Trustees of Vivekananda Ashram that the Indian community has also taken the stand and is determined that Vivekananda Ashram is a national heritage that cannot and should not be developed for commercial purposes.

As such, the best and prudent act for the trustees will be to announce publicly that the proposed development is cancelled.

Further dragging will only mean further embarrassment to the trustees.

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MEMO

The Vivekananda Ashrama, Kuala Lumpur

-  Its Status in Law

This paper is prepared in the context of the development proposed on the Land on which the Vivekananda Ashram, Brickfields stands.

It must be noted at the outset that The Vivekananda Ashrama does not have the power to develop or to sell the Land under its Memorandum & Articles of the Association. The proposed development is therefore in excess of power, ultra vires, and wrongful on several counts, including breach of trust.

The amendment to the objects of the Vivekananda Ashrama on 22^nd July 2011, if valid, only empowers a sale of the Land with the prior approval of the Minister charged with the responsibilities for companies and the Director General of Inland Revenue, Malaysia. Such approvals do not appear to have been secured.

A.       The Corporate Structure - for a public purpose

1.       The Vivekananda Ashrama, Kuala Lumpur is a private company limited by Guarantee, incorporated on 28 November 1934 (“the VA Association”) under the Companies Enactment 1917. Its Rules and Regulations confirm that the VA Association was founded in 1904, under the name of The Vivekananda Reading Hall. 

·                 Attachment 1 is the Rules and Regulations of the VA Association. 

·                 Attachment 2 is the Memorandum and Articles of VA Association (“M&A”).

·                 Attachment 2A is the Form 11 Notice of Resolution dated 22^nd July 2011.

2.       Of particular importance are Articles 4 and 5 of the M&A which preserve the income and property of the Association to be applied solely for the promotion of its objects, without any portion being return to its members in profits or dividends, as a condition of its incorporation as a company limited by Guarantee. 

3.       Sections 23 and 24 of the Companies Enactment 1917 (Sections 24 and 32 of the Companies Act 1965) provide that an association formed as a limited company for promotinginter alia art, science, religion, charity and other useful objects, and intends to apply its profits and other income in promoting its object and to prohibit the payment of dividend to its members, maybe exempted from using the words “Limited” to its name. Section 24 renders void any resolution or provision of the VA Association limited by Guarantee, purporting to return profits to its members.

·                 Attachment 3 is the relevant extract of the Companies Enactment 1917, and the Companies Act 1965.

·                 Attachment 4 is the certification of exemption from use of the word “Limited” granted to the VA Association.

4.       By virtue of the aforesaid exemption from the use of “Limited” and restriction on the return of profits to members, it is clear that the VA Association was established as an association with a charitable and public purpose, not as any ordinary private company limited by shares. Members of a company limited by Guarantee do not contribute to the start up funds equivalent to share capital. The initial funds of the VA Association can therefore, be assumed to be derived from donations, subscription and fee charged by the VA Association.

B.       The Grant of Land – for a public purpose

5.       The Vivekananda Ashrama Building (“the Building”) is constructed on land identified as Lot 33, Seksyen 72 GRN 50406 (“the Land”). GRN 50406 appears to have been issued in 1895, conditional upon a building worth $500 being erected thereon within a year, on pain of withdrawal of the grant. The grant of the Land to the VA Association is therefore, conditional on a building being erected within a defined period for the purposes of the VA Association. This condition runs with the Land.

·                 Attachment 5 is a copy of the registry search on the title of the Land.

6.       Although title to the Land is held under the name of the VA Association, the ownership of the Land must be considered in the context of the public and charitable nature of the VA Association discussed above, and the condition imposed on the grant of the Land to the VA Association. The Land or returns therefrom, cannot enure to the benefit of its members, including the Management Committee/Board of Directors/Trustees of the VA Association. The Land is intended to house a building for the charitable purposes of the VA Association, and not intended for conversion into profit.

7.       The VA Association in essence holds the Land in trust for the benefit of its public purpose, and the community for which the M&A designs it to serve.

  

8.       Any change in use of the Land for purposes other than its public and charitable purpose would be ultra vires the M&A; and contrary to the terms of incorporation and the condition imposed upon the Land.

9.       Any measures or steps taken that enable a member to receive returns from the change in use of the Land would be void, contrary to the law, and in excess of the powers of the Management Committee of the VA Association. 

10.     The Annual Return of the Company Not Having Share Capital of the VA Association (Form 55) dated 29 January 2014 (“the Annual Returns”) as lodged with CCM, is attached as Attachment 6. The Honorary Treasurer of the VA Association is named therein as Vignesh Naidu a/l Kuppusamy Naidu, bearing NRIC No. 730125-07-5693 (“Vignesh Naidu”).

11.     It was publicly announced by the Chairman of the VA Association in or around 16 October 2014 that the Land was to be sold to and/or developed by a company called F3 Capital Sdn Bhd (“F3 Capital”) for the purposes of building a 23 storey residential building with an eight storey parking podium behind and over the Building on the Land (“the Proposed Development”). The results of a company search on F3 Capital identify Vignesh Naidu as a director and shareholder thereof. The result of a search on F3 Capital at the CCM is attached as Attachment 7.

·                 Attachment 7A is the Financial Statement of the VA Association for the year ending 2013 which shows the RM6 million in funds received from the Government to fund its schools.

C.       The Heritage Status of the Building and Land

  

12.     The heritage status of the Building and Land as a site of historical, cultural and social value and significance began in 1895, with the grant of the Land for use by the VA Association for its specific public objectives; enhanced by the esteemed activities of the VA Association that were held in the years leading to the independence of this nation on the Land and in the Building. Many charitable, cultural and social causes that cumulatively contribute to substantive nation building were pioneered here. The Land and Building nurtured many highly regarded persons and organizations in Malaysia, and is a testimony of true patriotism.

13.     In 2008 and 2009, two “Notices of Intention to Designate Site as Heritage Site” were issued by the Commissioner of Heritage, pursuant to Section 27(2)(a) of the National Heritage Act 2005 in recognition of this heritage value. It is commonly understood that the Trustees/Directors of the VA Association as Owners of the Land, objected to this designation.

         

·                 Attachment 8 are the Notices appearing in the Gazette.

14.     The Commissioner of Heritage, pursuant to Section 31 of the National Heritage Act, 2005 is empowered, despite objection of the Owners/Trustees, to designate the Land and Building as a heritage site in the greater interest of the public and nation, with the consent of the State Authority.

15.     Section 67(1) of the Heritage Act, 2005 empowers the Minister by Order, published in a gazette, to declare any heritage site as a National Heritage. The Section 67 power appears to be a follow through from the declaration of a site as a heritage site under Sections 24 and 31 of the Heritage Act, 2005. The considerations that the Minister is to weigh are provided in Section 67(2), and the Minister shall consult the State Authority before making such declaration.

16.     The Owners/Trustees of that site shall be notified at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed declaration, under Section 67(4). Unlike Sections 24 to 31 of the Heritage Act, 2005 there is no further provision for hearing objections from the Owners or Trustees at this stage. A copy of the Minister’s Order shall be served on the Trustees of the site, and any person who objects to the declaration may submit an objection in writing to the Minister within 3 months of its publication, and apply to the Minister for the revocation of the Order. The Minister may, having been advised by the Heritage Council, revoke or refuse to revoke the Order and such decision shall be final. [Sections 67(7), (8) and (9)]. It would then be for the Owners/Trustees, if they deem fit, to seek Court redress against Minister’s decision.

17.     Any person may nominate to the Minister for any natural and intangible cultural heritage to be declared a National Heritage. As at 25^th November 2014, more than 73,000 people in Malaysia of all races and religion have nominated that the Minister declare the Building and Land as a National Heritage.

18.     Bearing in mind the Owners/Trustees are acting ultra vires, in conflict of interest, and in breach of trust, the Owners/Trustees do not represent the public and charitable interest in the Building and Land. The 73,000 voices of the public are the authentic expression of the interest of the community and nation in the Building and Land. The objections of the Owners/Trustees may be overridden by the Minister and the Commissioner of Heritage in exercise of their wide and unfettered discretion.

19.     The Owners/Trustees have been heard with regard to the intention of the Commissioner of Heritage to declare the Land and Building as a heritage site. What remains outstanding is an affirmative declaration under Section 31 by the Commissioner of Heritage of the Building and Land as a heritage site. Section 67 can immediately thereafter be implemented by the Minister to declare the Building and Land as a National Heritage.

20.     The Building and Land will continue to remain owned by the VA Association pursuant to Section 69 the Heritage Act, 2005 regardless of its declaration as a National Heritage. There is no question of the Government having to compensate the Owners/Trustees when making such declaration.

·                 Attachment 9 are Sections 24 to 40, 67 and 68 of the Heritage Act, 2005.

  

21.     Whilst consent of the Owners or Trustee is required to effect repairs or changes in preserving and conserving  the Building and Land under Section 38 of the Heritage Act, 2005, such consent is not required to declare the Building and Land as a heritage site or a National Heritage.

22.     Section 9 of the Government Proceedings Act, 1956 enables new trustees to be appointed in the face of  alleged breach of  trust for the public, social or charitable purposes or where deemed necessary for the administration of such trust. Names of eminently suitable persons to replace the Trustees, should the need arise, can readily be furnished to the Minister.

·                 Attachment 10 is Section 9 of the Government Proceedings Act, 1956.

23.     Until the process under Sections 24, 31 and 67 are completed, an Interim Protection Order under Section 33 of the Heritage Act, 2005 may be issued to preserve the status quo of the Building and Land.

26^th November 2014