KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 (Sin Chew Daily) — After receiving an invitation from the Melaka Buddhist group to deliver a talk in the historical city three years ago, President of Singapore Buddhist Federation Ven Seck Kwang Phing decided to set up a care home for Buddhist monks and nuns there.

Located at Taman Nuri, Durian Tunggal, the care home Qi Yuan started operation on September 18 this year.

A total of RM4.5 million was raised in 2020 for the acquisition of three units of three-storey houses at Taman Nuri to set up the nursing home to care for monks and nuns.

Ven Seck Kwang Phing said the home was supposed to start operation in the second half of 2020 but renovation work was delayed due to the pandemic.

Durian Tunggal was chosen as the site of the care home because of its proximity to the Ayer Keroh toll and the fact that one of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail stations will also be located at Durian Tunggal.

As lockdown measures were imposed to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, Ven Seck Kwang Phing handed over the work of setting up Qi Yuan to his student Ven Chuan Hui in Kulai, Johor.

“The delay poses a challenge to our commitment to set up the nursing home,’’ said Ven Seck Kwan Phing.

He urged Buddhist organizations and devotees to continue supporting the nursing home set up to care for monks and nuns.