Hassan Karim to PMX: Don’t demolish Hindu temple; build mosque next to it

 

Editor’s Note: In an open letter, PKR lawmaker and Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has urged Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be both colour and creed blind when championing the interest of Malaysians.

I AM writing this open letter as a Muslim MP from PKR (Pakatan Harapan) who have been both a Madani government and personal supporter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) for a long time.

In line with the principle of the Madani Government which is the source of Islamic philosophy which perpetuates justice and benevolence, I call on DSAI to resolve the issue of Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple in Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur fairly and wisely. I believe DSAI is capable of doing that.

I witnessed first-hand at a prestigious university in Doha, Qatar in 2019 where DSAI as a Muslim democrat spoke about the Renaissance from a lofty and progressive Islamic perspective.

Now DSAI as the PM has the opportunity on our own soil in 2025 to show a solution to the issue of an existing temple and a mosque to be built in Jalan Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur.

Humble plea on behalf of Hindu Malaysians

Before going any further, it is good to examine Clause 1, Article 3 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia which states that Islam is the (official) religion of the Federation but other religions may be practiced peacefully in any part of the Federation.

The Hindu society in Malaysia – like the believers of other faiths – accept the special position of Islam in the country. They only want to peacefully practice their religion without harassment.

The Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple in Jalan Masjid India has been built for a long time, more than 100 years ago (in 1893 to be precise) and long before the Malay Peninsula became independent. Our country was still colonised by the British then.

The temple was built with the permission of the then governing authorities as a place of worship for Hindu Indian workers who were brought into the country by the British colonialist, including to Kuala Lumpur to build roads, railway tracks and other infrastructural constructions of which have remained in existence to this day.

The said temple has played a peaceful role for the interest of the Hindu community in the area concerned to carry out their religious practices peacefully till now.

As such, I wish to humbly call on DSAI to take a path of fair and wise solution based on the Madani principle which has now been accepted by the multi-religious society in Malaysia.

Let sensibility prevail

There are two measures that are reasonable to take. First, do not let the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple be demolished.

As a Muslim I call on DSAI as a respected Muslim leader both nationally and at international stage for us all to display the true virtues and manners of a Muslim as espoused by the Islamic teachings which is to respect the rights of Hindu Malaysians.

The second solution is for DSAI as the PM to put forward a proposal that the new mosque (purportedly Masjid Madani) is to be built on a site adjacent to or near the temple. This means that the mosque can be constructed while the temple remains on its existing site without being demolished.

If such a noble solution can be achieved, then a lot of goodness can be gained. Among them, no hearts or feelings of any race and religion are hurt.

Apart from that, racial and religious division can be avoided. It is no less important in this holy month of Ramadan, the Malaysian PM is able to set an example as a unity leader who is both just and compassionate to citizens of various race and religion. – Focus Malaysia