Kuala Lumpur: Tensions between Muslims and Hindus over the ‘transfer’ of an ancient temple

At the centre of the controversy is a pre-independence building dedicated to the deity Dewi Sri Pathra Kaliamma Amma that is more than 130 years old. A mosque will be built in its place, while the temple will be ‘transferred’ to a yet unknown location. The prime minister calls for calm and denies the government's involvement in the decision.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) – The imminent relocation of a 130-year-old Hindu temple in the centre of Kuala Lumpur has sparked a war – for now verbal – between the faithful and the Muslim majority, who plan to build a mosque in the area.

The future Islamic place of worship will be called Masjid Madani, a ‘broad’ term used in the political sphere and which is also a slogan of the government led by Anwar Ibrahim.

However, rumours about the temple's relocation have sparked protests from numerous Hindu groups, who emphasise the historical and cultural value of a building constructed in 1894, well before Malaysia's independence from the British Empire.

The statue of the main deity, Dewi Sri Pathra Kaliamma Amma, is over two and a half metres tall. The temple is located at number 6 Jalan Bunus, along the busy Jalan Masjid India, overlooked by tall commercial buildings and opposite the Jakel shopping centre.

Ramasamy Palanisamy, president of the United for the Rights of Malaysians (Urimai) party, emphasised that the temple is a ‘significant landmark’ and ‘predates Malaysia's independence’. For this reason he appealed to the capital's municipality (DBKL) to prevent its removal.

‘The removal of a long-standing Hindu temple for any other purpose is unacceptable, especially in a nation that prides itself on being multiracial and multi-faith,’ insisted the former deputy prime minister of Penang.

The DBKL has apparently identified a site for the relocation of the temple, although the exact location has not been disclosed; furthermore, the proposal to build the mosque is said to have been put forward by the landowner and not by the government.

The administration has also assured the public that it will take all measures in line with the principle of religious freedom guaranteed by the federal constitution, confirming that the temple will not be demolished until the transfer process is complete.

On the other hand, N Surendran, the lawyer representing the temple, declared that the proposed demolition and transfer would not respect the historical development of places of worship and their deep roots in Malaysia's Tamil Hindu community.

Concerned about a possible escalation of tension, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for calm and added that the government had no role in the decision to build a mosque on that site.

‘I hope there will be no inappropriate reactions, including from the Muslim community, and that the matter will be handled properly,’ the Prime Minister said in a statement released by the Bernama news agency.

‘It is an ancient temple, but its status is not officially approved. However, to maintain harmony, the company (which owns the land) has agreed to provide assistance, while the Dbkl has already identified a replacement site to avoid any problems’.

Finally, Anwar invited the parties involved in the transfer of the temple to find the best way to resolve the issue amicably, without trying to profit unduly from the situation.

Over the past 30 years, dozens of ancient pre-independence Hindu temples have been illegally ‘evicted’ by the state and local authorities. These incidents have gone unnoticed because the custodians of these temples are mostly disadvantaged, poor, ignorant and defenceless citizens of the Indian community in Malaysia.

In 2006, three Hindu deities from a 110-year-old temple were smashed to pieces with sledgehammers in front of the devotees. The demolition was allegedly carried out by the mayor of Shah Alam, his soldiers, the local police and an unknown group of thugs.

In reality, the story of the demolition of the ancient Mariamman Sri Selva Kaliaamman temple is just the tip of the iceberg, as well as being a ruthless and illegal act by senior government officials.

In January 2018, an 80-year-old Hindu temple in Seri Alam, Johor, was demolished because it was built on private land, also raising a fierce controversy. The Sultan of Johor, now King of Malaysia, also intervened in the matter to mediate a resolution acceptable to all parties.

• Malaysia