Over 60 Years of Faith & Sewa

On 25 February, the Pontian Sangat met at the Pontian Indian Association Hall. Sardar Jagir Singh Cheema was elected president of the Building Committee.

Founding committee members

• Sardar Joginder Singh Didarewala
• Sardar Jasbir Singh Johl Dhale-Ke Moga
• Sardar Kehar Singh Himmatpura
• Sardar Santokh Singh Sangatpura
• Sardar Teja Singh Pekan Nenas
• Sardar Bachan Singh Cheema
• Sardar Karnail Singh Shooshak
• Sardar Jawand Singh Didarewala
• Sardar Jang Singh Kot Kapura

Their work established the foundation for the Gurdwara in Pontian.

After an earlier request for land from the Pontian Land Office was unsuccessful, the Sangat agreed on 2 August to buy a 17,013 sq ft plot. The site was forested and had no road access. Sardar Jagir Singh Cheema and Sardar Kehar Singh Himmatpura led six months of work to clear the land and create an access road that still serves the Gurdwara today.

The first wooden Gurdwara was completed in August at a cost of RM3,200. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was installed there on 28 August, and Kehar Singh Himmatpura, a retired police officer, became Granthi Sahib. Over 34 years of unpaid sewa he also served in several committee roles and gave all prayer and Ardas offerings back to the Gurdwara Golak. The Sangat came to know him as Bhai Sahib Kehar Singh.

On 4 September, Sant Baba Fateh Singh Ji, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), laid the foundation stone, witnessed by Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji of Malacca.

On 26 November, the access road was officially named Lorong Gurdwara after Sardar Jasbir Singh Johl petitioned the Pontian District Officer. Lorong Gurdwara is one of the few Malaysian streets named for a Gurdwara.

Work on the permanent Gurdwara began on 13 November. The building was completed in March 1976, with RM10,000 from the Johor State Government towards the RM45,000 cost.

On 28 March, Johor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Datuk Haji Othman bin Haji Mohd Saat officially opened the Gurdwara. More than 700 attended, including Sangat from Johor Bahru, Segamat, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Sardar Nashatar Singh Nihang led the Bhangra performance, and Gian Mahinder Singh Srur and Giani Anokh Singh demonstrated Gatka.

A fire damaged the Darbar Sahib on 5 August. Volunteers led by Mata Rajinder Kaur and Mata Sri Kaur (Phabi) converted the Langgar Hall into a temporary Darbar Sahib for the duration of the rebuilding.

The Sangat helped raise funds for the renovations, completed on 25 August at a cost of approximately RM400,000. The Gurdwara history names Sardar Kulwant Singh, Sardar Gurdeep Singh, Gyani Ude Singh and Sardar Lachman Singh alongside this milestone.

The Gurdwara carried out minor renovations to the Darbar Sahib ahead of the 50th anniversary of its inauguration. On 28 March 2026, Gurdwara Sahib Pontian marked the anniversary by hosting the Johor State Vaisakhi celebration for the first time, with Johor Menteri Besar YAB Dato’ Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi as guest of honour. The Johor State Government announced RM400,000 in funding, including RM300,000 for building works to support the new accommodation annex and RM100,000 in additional funding for the Gurdwara.