History

"The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kukup is located near the sea about 18km south of Pontian town. This area (Mukim Ayer Hitam) was once under the British colony and was known as Pontian United Plantations, Kukup Estate in 1914. This temple is believed to have existed during tha British colonialism and the age of this temple is about 100 years old. The current temple site was given by Pontian United Plantations by approving the temple to be registered under the government (ROS) in 2002.This place is also popular among the residents of Mukim Serkat and Ayer Masin as it is located on the route of tourists from within and outside the state who frequent the seafood center in Kukup. Most of the villagers here own and manage oil palm plantations, coconut and banana crops and some are fishermen. The population is estimated to be 3921 people comprising Malays, Chinese, Indians and Indonesians as foreign workers. After the three generations that guarded the temple, Mr. Thangavelu Singan, who worked as a clerk in the plantation, was given the right to care for the temple. He has been managing this temple for 47 years. Now, even though he is 80 years of  age, he still manages the temple with the help of his son  Mr Jayashankar Thangavelu  who is also the Vice Chairman of  the temple committee. "