Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah KBE AO has donated RM1 million towards the restoration of Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang, the oldest Gurdwara in Malaysia and historically largest Sikh temple in Southeast Asia.

The contribution helped complete a RM6.1 million conservation project to restore the 125-year-old temple, which was officially reopened on Saturday by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, alongside Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Steven Sim.

Founded in 1901, Wadda Gurdwara Sahib is a Category One heritage building within the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site and an enduring symbol of Penang’s multicultural heritage.

Category One is the highest classification under George Town’s heritage conservation framework, covering buildings and sites of exceptional significance to the city’s historic and cultural landscape.

Skilled artisans from India worked alongside local heritage experts to conserve its limestone walls, timber structures and distinctive architectural features while addressing structural damage sustained over the years.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo said the restoration would ensure that an important part of the state’s history is preserved for future generations.

“Penang is proud to preserve landmarks such as Wadda Gurdwara Sahib, which embody our shared multicultural heritage,” Jagdeep said.

“We are deeply grateful to Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah for his generosity in supporting this restoration. His contribution reflects a commitment to inclusivity and unity, ensuring that this temple remains a beacon of faith and harmony for generations to come,” Jagdeep added.

The Penang State Government had earlier contributed RM1 million towards the restoration project in April 2024, while another RM600,000 was raised at a fundraising dinner in Kuala Lumpur.

Beyond its religious and historical significance, Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang remains an important centre of community life. Accommodating up to 400 people, the temple provides free daily meals, known as langar, to people of all backgrounds and serves as a hub for educational, health and community outreach programmes.

Its community hall houses a library and dedicated spaces for food distribution, health screenings and other initiatives supporting young people, senior citizens, single mothers and those in need.

A commemorative plaque and the community hall within the temple will bear Cheah’s name in recognition of his contribution to the restoration and the temple’s continuing service to the community.

Cheah said the donation reflected his belief that preserving the country’s heritage strengthens the bonds that unite Malaysians.

“Georgetown is one of the world’s great historic cities, shaped over generations by people of different faiths and cultures. Its unique architecture tells the story of the many communities that built this city together,” Cheah said.

“Our heritage is a shared inheritance. I hope the restoration of Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang will help preserve this legacy, so that the Malaysia our children inherit continues to reflect the unity, generosity and mutual respect that have always been among our nation’s greatest strengths,” Cheah added.

Wadda Gurdwara Sahib Penang president and Conservation and Restoration Committee chairman Dato’ Santok Singh described Cheah as a sincere role model for unity in Malaysia’s multiracial society.

“Tan Sri’s contribution reflects his sincere belief that Malaysia’s diversity is a strength to be cherished and that every community has a place in our shared national story,” Santok said.

“We regard him as a role model whose generosity sends a powerful message that preserving the heritage of any one community enriches our nation as a whole and strengthens the unity that binds all Malaysian,” Santok added.

The official ceremony forms part of a three-day grand opening programme from 12 to 14 September. It began with prayers and the ceremonial Prakash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Sikhism’s sacred scripture, followed by a commemorative plaque signing and a tour of an exhibition tracing the gurdwara’s 125-year history.

The programme also features devotional recitations and music, visits to the Darbar Sahib prayer hall and communal langar, reflecting the gurdwara’s continuing role as both a place of worship and a centre of community life.

The contribution of RM1 million builds on Cheah’s longstanding commitment to nation-building through education and community development.

Through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, he has endowed more than RM4 billion in assets to advance education in perpetuity.

The Foundation has also awarded close to RM1.1 billion in scholarships and grants, helping to make high-quality education accessible to as many students as possible.

Cheah is also the first individual in Asia to have been named among Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy five times.