A visit to the Sikh Temple in Johor Baru

My experience at a Sikh Temple in JB on the 27 of September 2009, 10.30am. This is an email that I wrote to S'pore Khalsa Association.

Sat Sri Akal,

I'm an Indian and a non-Sikh. Today I left my hometown in Singapore and went over to Malaysia and in particular decided to visit the Johor Baru Gurdwara.

When I reached Gurdwara entrance, I greeted a young Sikh who was chatting with 2 other elder Sikh men.I requested permission to enter, the young Sikh nodded his head but the elder gestured me, "Oi, no cigarettes and head must cover." I aknowledged, "OK, OK," and went in.

I saw so many of them eating and chatting. I felt lost inside, I then decided to chat up another Sikh who was at the table with 2 other Sikhs. I requested whether are there any info for visitors, he responded by asking, "Who are you and where you are from?" I replied my name politely and I told I'm from Singapore and that I'm a 1st time visitor." He insisted that I tell him, where I'm from originally and I told him I'm originally from Chennai. Upon which, he pointed to another elder and said, "He is the President, go and ask him." Meanwhile, one slightly elder Sikh who was opposite him was staring at me, which made me feel very uncomfortable.

I stood up and walked towards the President and humbly requested his permission to visit the Prayer Hall. As my head was already covered with a "Rumal," he advised me to not bring up any cigarettes. I replied that I don't have any and that I don't smoke. I tried to smile to the rest of the audience but everyone seem to be very serious and unsmiling except with themselves.

I went up to the Prayer Hall and enjoyed every minute of the hymns that were being sung next to the Granth Sahib. I then left after about 30mins with pleasant feeling of the hymns in my ears and also bitter thoughts of some unfriendly crowd and being made to feel unwelcomed with the stares and curt statements. All these seemed contrary to what I've heard from Sikh friends in Singapore.

May I ask if is it possible for Khalsa to contact them inform them about my experience and also to request them to be more friendly to visitors to their Gurdwara, please?

Thanks and regards.