Hindu altar row: Whatever happened to tolerance?

YOURSAY ‘If this is what the Malay community has come to, then the non-Malays will have to fight for their right to profess their religion.'

Residents oppose rebuilding of Hindu altar in Sepang 

P Dev Anand Pillai: What nonsense is this Taman Seroja Residents Association president Kamarulzaman Mat Zain talking about?

The temple is within the compound of the house; it is not on the public road, so it is well within the jurisdiction of the house owner to pray inside his/her own house, which includes the outer part till the main front gate.

MIC Youth is right here, if an illegal temple is constructed on a private land, which is not a dwelling, then the authorities may intervene. But this is the right to worship within the boundaries of one's own house.

So it looks like the schemers are up to it again. What does this mean, that Christians, Hindus and Buddhist can't keep shrines in their own homes?

If this is what the Malay community has come to, then the non-Malays will have to fight for their right to profess their religion. If the Malays do not want any other religious sites in the country except that of their own, then start demolishing everything.

Mr Kalai: Any altar in a Hindu house should be inside the house and not outside. It should not be in a permanent building built like a mini-temple.

Once a temple or shrine, however small it is, is built, Hindus will not remove it believing that the deity has settled down there.

What happens if the house is sold and the new owner does not want the shrine? Let us respect God. Give him a proper place.

Southpaw: Why do I have a strong feeling that this is BN component parties' play act, particularly between MIC and Umno.

KPNG: "She (neighbour Zurina Muhammad) conceded that the expansion of the altar may have caused some Muslims feel uncomfortable.''

But it is entirely within the Indian owner's house compound. Why are the Muslims in that locality feeling uncomfortable, I don't understand.

Can't they accept others' freedom to their religion? The Sepang Municipal Council (MPS) must explain.

Don't use the argument of the small number of Indian population there, that sounds like bullying. We are talking about freedom of to practise our religion.

ACR: This residents' association only represents 95 percent of the residents? The five percent non-Muslim residents have no representation?

The immediate Malay/Muslim neighbour does not have problems with the altar. The altar is not for public use.

Why bring into the fray the residents' association as though public space is being abused to the detriment of the residents?

Louis: Kamarulzaman, does this mean that when Hindus form the minority in an are, they need not practise their religion? How would the Muslims feel if they are denied places of worship in areas or countries where they represent a small minority?

Islam is reasonable and expects Muslims to be tolerant to other religious practices. Allowing a small Hindu shrine to be built does not mean weakness in Islam. On the contrary, it shows the strength of Islam, which comes what may, will weather all other influences.

Fair Play: Is this the Malaysian Malaysia concept after more than 50 over years living together in harmony?

Frankly, as a Malaysian, I love to be surrounded by mosques, churches, temples and any praying place. Such places give a sense of peace to calm one's mind.

Bumiasli: Another example of superiority complex. Does the residents' association have the right to interfere in peoples' private matters?

Thisia: I just don't understand what is so wrong having a shrine inside a house? Even if there is 99.99 percent Muslims in the area, what is the problem? It's like saying in a non-Muslim majority area, a surau is not allowed. Grow up, guys.

Tpn: Don't talk this crap about "our sensitivity". I stay in a area where more than 90 percent of the people are non-Muslims. However, we have never made an issue about the surau expansion nor the azan prayer call.

We show respect to the local Muslim community as we are Malaysians who respect one another, irrespective of the religion. Kamarulzaman sounds like he can be converted out of Islam if he sees a temple in his area. Please cut out silly crap.

Imran: I am an Indian Hindu and I really think the Indians are going overboard with their temples. It seems a fact that there is a Hindu temple at every corner.

These so-called temples are most often put up by small groups and over the years there are thousands around the country.

I think Indian Hindus should be sensitive to the local population. As for the altars constructed in their gardens, I think these too should be controlled. Altars are meant to be inside the house. I was shocked to see a house in Sungai Buloh having a huge altar in their porch.

I am a Hindu too and I am ashamed of these actions by some people in the Indian community. The Indians think they can politicise anything to do with temples. The authorities should not give in to these small groups. Most educated Indians are share the same opinion I have just expressed.

MK: You have the right to have a shrine in your own house. But make sure to comply with local council regulations. Very simple.

Shemc2: I am not pro or against this issue, but the part that is disturbing is, despite the many years of living in a multiracial society, we are still a long way from accepting our multiracial society.

I wonder if the situation was reversed, most likely a war would have broken out by now.

Enlightened: Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's deafening silence on the issue is starting to cast some doubts in a lot of Hindus' and Buddhists' minds as to Pakatan Rakyat's stand on religious tolerance.

Mohd Mazlan Khamis: Please do a background check and charge all those who are protesting here as they could incite unhealthy race relations on our shores.

It's better to be safe than sorry. We do not need extremists in our country. The police should act swiftly against these people instead of wasting time with the Bersih group.

Kalaiselvam Palaniappan: If people could build a rock garden in the compound of a house, why can't we build an altar?

We have ready-made altars made of wood and stone (large ones) yet we can't build one? A person can't worship God in their own home?

The law states that every residential area should have a mosque and non-Muslims respect it, so why can't the same gesture be extended to us?

These racist bigots should understand that this altar is built within the compound of the house, period.

Ferdtan: I still think it is alright to have the Hindu altar inside the compound for private prayers. My neighbour has a Taoist shrine built inside his compound.

I also have a surau one hundred metre away, with traffic jams every Friday and its daily prayers' calls, but I have no objections. What are a few minutes of inconvenience for tolerance?

The fault initially lies with the town council officers, who obviously up to no good and torn down the Hindu altar. However, M Thanalechemy's family should not politicise it by getting MIC to get involved.

They gave too much prominence to the mainstream media to hit at Pakatan, and now you get these Umno-backed supporters playing the religious issue again, like those in Shah Alam who started the'cow-head' demonstration.

LittleGiant: Malaysia is a nation that relies on the strength and solidarity of the three major races - the Malays, the Chinese and the Indians - for its progress and development.

It is extremely disappointing and frustrating that the rakyat have to witness these ugly incidents.

Can Malaysians truly believe in ‘unity in diversity'? Can we ever achieve racial and religious tolerance and acceptance? Fifty-five years after Merdeka, it seems more impossible than possible. It is sad, very sad. - Malaysiakini