Sikhism in Malaysia
It is estimated that there are around 130,000 Sikhs in Malaysia.
Early Sikh Pioneers
Despite the popular belief that Sikhs were brought to the then Malaya as police and soldiers, historically it is proven that Sikhs were actually sent to Malaya as political prisoners. The first few Sikhs to set foot in Malaya were Nihal Singh (better known as Bhai Maharaj Singh) and Kharak Singh, who were thrown out of India due to anti-British involvement somewhere around 1800. These prisoners were sent to the Outram Road prison in what is now Singapore. In 1865, it is believed that the process of migration of Sikhs to Malaysia started again but this time involved recruitment in the armed forces in the British Empire mainly as police, military and guards.
Prominent Sikhs in Malaysia
- DSP Dalbir Singh Virk
- Karpal Singh-DAP MP
- Gobind Singh Deo-DAP MP
- Kavita Sidhu-Actress/Model
- Asha Gill-Model/TV Presenter
- Abtar singh cheema- sinar mas group
- Dr Gurmit Singh-Director of Research, United Plantations Berhad
- Sarjit singh cheema- EX-ISP chairman,incorporated society of planters
- Harjeet Singh Hardev Singh - Deputy Secretary General (Strategic), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development Malaysia
- TKPj. Narender Singh Chand Singh-Pengarah Penjara Sungai Buloh,
- Datuk Suret Singh -road safety department director- general
- Dr. Pola Singh-Director General of Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA)
- YBhg Dato' Dr SS Cheema (Vice-President of Malaysian Hockey Federation & Patron of Malaysia Singapore Sikh Sports Council)
- YBhg Dato' Sohan Singh Randhawa (President of Malaysia Singapore Sikh Sports Council) and others.
- Tan Sri Dato' Ajit Singh-Executive Director at Global Innovation Research Centre,CEO at British Telecom Multimedia Malaysia,Head, Malaysian Research Centre at BT
- Dr Veerinderjeet Singh - the Managing Director of TAXAND MALAYSIA Sdn. Bhd.
- GURMIT SINGH K.S.-Chairman, Centre for Environment, Technology and Development (CETDEM)
- Dato' SS Cheema
- Datin Harbans Kaur Cheema-Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang UiTM for the year 2001,Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang FTMSK for the year 2001
- Mr Sukdev Singh-DirectorForensic Department of KPMG Malaysia
- Dato' Dr. Harnam Singh A/L Mantha Singh-Founder Member of the Malaysian Society of Otorhinolaryngology and World Society of Otolaryngic Allergy
- Datuk Himmat Singh Ralla Singh-is currently Deputy Director General II of the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department. He is also a member of the Board of the Railway Asset Corporation.
- Tan Sri Karnail Singh Nijhar
- Dato' Amar Singh (SAC)(Timbalan Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur), EX-commandent of pulapol Polis training center
- Rabindarjeet Singh-Senior professor, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Head of Healthy Lifestyle Cluster at the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, USM, Penang, Malaysia
- Tan Sri Darshan Singh Gill-President of GERAKSIKH [1]
- Gina Dhaliwal-Radio Announcer-THR.fm
- Shebby Singh-Football Coach/Commentator/Former Malaysian Football Player
- Baljit Singh Sarjab-Malaysian National Hockey Player [2]
- Kelvinder Singh-Malaysian National Hockey Player
- Dato' Karam Singh Walia-TV3 News Editor, Investigative Journalist and Environmentalist.First Sikh To Be Awarded the Tokoh Maulidur Rasul Award In 2005, the World Wildlife Fund For Nature (WWF) Patron's Award in 2002 and the Green Citizen Award in 2000. Winner of more than 30 Journalism and Public Service Awards from 1997 to 2011.
- Karamjit Singh-Professional Racer
- Jessy Chahal-Actress/Winner of Miss Malaysia India Global 2002
- Jagdeep Singh Deo-Politician-DAP
- Keshvinder Singh-Politician-DAP
Gurdwaras in Malaysia
There are a total of 112 gurdwaras throughout Malaysia. 42 of them are situated in the state of Perak, where the majority of Sikhs in Malaysia resides.
Sikh Professionals
Most Sikhs started out as policemen, soldiers, guards and even businessmen. However, it is normal to see Sikhs working as professionals now for example, doctors, lawyers, dentists etc.
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