A member of the temple committee, who declined to be named, said the funds would be used to build a multipurpose hall, a cultural centre, and an escalator to the top of the temple.

Gobind said he had briefed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the matter, and he had agreed to allocate the funds requested by the Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple committee.

“We have asked the committee to send us a request stating the amount of funds needed,” he told a press conference while attending the Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves.

Gobind said the government would then review the request and allocate a “reasonable” amount. However, he did not elaborate further.

Last Friday, Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple committee chairman R Nadarajah said an escalator would be built at Batu Caves this year as an alternative to the 272 steps for devotees and visitors to reach the temple.

He also hoped that the federal government would allocate some funds for the temple to carry out the project.

“We hope (the government) will help us because this year, we are going to put up an escalator for the (disabled) and elderly who cannot climb the steps (to get to the main temple),” Nadarajah said at a press conference with human resources minister Steven Sim.

However, he did not disclose how much the project would cost.