MIC president Dr S Subramaniam, accused the board of “unbecoming” conduct and meddling in the internal affairs of Hindu temples in Penang.

“In other states, the Registrar of Societies would resolve temple disputes but in Penang, the board would step in every time there are issues in Hindu temples.

“While we do not dispute the board’s authority, it should be left to the RoS to resolve the problem. But here, the board has taken over the management of a few temples recently on the ‘pretext’ of solving disputes,” he was reported to have said on Thursday when opening Penang MIC’s annual meeting.

The Penang Hindu Endowment Board manages eight temples and a burial ground. Board chairman P. Ramasamy said Subramaniam failed to understand that the Registrar would not be able to solve certain religious issues pertaining to disputes.

He said it was natural for PHEB to be called in, as other states did not have Hindu endowment boards.