Latheefa criticises damaging of temples, says it's un-Islamic

 

Lawyer Latheefa Koya has condemned the deliberate damage to unauthorised Hindu temples and harassment of Indians, saying such acts are un-Islamic and driven by racism.

In a statement on X, Latheefa said Islam prohibits the destruction of other houses of worship as well as mocking other religions.

“It’s easy to be the bully in a country where you are the majority and have the political advantage. It’s the cowards’ way.

“Indians/Hindus are the most vulnerable minority - politically and economically weak,” said the former MACC chief this morning.

Last week, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered local councils to “clean up” unauthorised temples.

Two days later, vigilantes damaged a temple in Rawang, Selangor, leading to four arrests.

The damaged temple in Rawang

A lawyer said the men had acted in accordance with Anwar’s “clean up” directive.

Commenting further, Latheefa said the real problem lies with political elites who “distract” ordinary Malays with emotional issues and slogans such as “tanah kita” (our land) and “agama kita” (our religion).

“The real threat to our lands is the Land Acquisition Act 1960, which is being wielded by big developers with the connivance of the government elite,” she asserted.

This can be seen in the case of Kampung Sungai Baru in Kuala Lumpur, where Latheefa said innocent residents had their houses demolished by developers who wield money and influence to buy the land while providing minimal compensation.

Tresspasser narrative

Another case she raised was the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple along Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur, which was relocated to make way for a mosque last year.

“The temple was there for decades before it was bought over by (a) very rich and influential ‘Malay’ business, who were well aware of the temple’s existence.

“And yet the narrative is that the temple is the ‘penceroboh’ (tresspasser) who is compensated for their so-called ‘trespass’.

“It’s a false, unfair narrative popularised by the PM (Anwar) himself,” she added.

Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple

After the temple agreed to relocate, Anwar described the planned construction of the Madani mosque in its place as a “victory”.

Latheefa said that more pressing issues have become sidelined, including corruption involving collusion between “mafia and enforcement officers and cronies”, the awarding of large contracts to government-linked interests, and a lack of transparency in governance.

Both minorities and the majority were ultimately victims of such practices, she asserted.

“We are all in the same boat - poor Indian and poor Malay. Don’t let them split us up using race and religion; face them together,” she added. - Mkini