Lawyers Ambiga Sreenevasan and N Surendran are demanding that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim withdraw his remarks ordering local councils to "clean up" unauthorised temples.
They said the directive was unprecedented and had serious consequences.
"For starters, only a court can declare with finality that a temple is occupying land illegally, and a court order is required before it can be demolished.
“In no circumstances can temple management be labelled trespassers, and police action taken against them.
"Neither does the argument hold water, that if it's on private land, vigilantism or self-help is allowed," they said in a joint statement today.
Anwar gave the "clean up" directive on Tuesday, saying that the government could not allow unauthorised temples to keep being built.
Two days later, vigilantes damaged a temple in Rawang.
Anwar had repeatedly spoken out against vigilante behaviour and stressed that no one can take the law into their own hands.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari had also said that for places of worship built on private land, the process requires the landowner to appoint a lawyer and obtain a court order before any eviction or demolition can take place.
Against Madani values
Ambiga and Surendran said Anwar's directive contradicted Madani's values of trust and compassion.
"That it emanates from a government that saw itself in power due to the support of all communities, underscores the callousness with which they are now being treated.
"This government has a duty to all Malaysians to ensure they may live in peace and harmony and without fear and exercise all their fundamental freedoms under the Federal Constitution.
"These are basic human rights that are being violated by the very government so many of us supported," the duo said.
They added that the government has a duty to act with caution on matters of religion and culture, by engaging in sensible discussions with community leaders to resolve sensitive issues. - Mkini
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