MAP: Form national-level committee for temple issue, make Nga co-chair

 

Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP) deputy president P Sivakumar has urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to establish a national-level committee to address the issue of unauthorised temples.

He said the committee should comprise high-level representatives from the Housing and Local Government Ministry, the National Unity Ministry, as well as NGOs and other stakeholders in a position to review and resolve disputes concerning places of worship.

“This committee will be crucial in addressing this powder-keg issue in a manner that ensures that all concerns are properly addressed,” he told Malaysiakini.

Suggesting that Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming be appointed co-chair of the committee, Sivakumar said local councils should be required to obtain the committee’s approval before demolishing any temple.

He added that the committee should be empowered to hear and act on appeals or complaints from temple committees to ensure fair consideration before any demolition order is issued.

Sivakumar also lauded Nga (above) for highlighting that some places of worship have existed for hundreds of years, even before the National Land Code and the Local Government Act came into force.

“MAP agrees with the minister's suggestion to adopt a regularisation approach, particularly for historically established structures,” he added.

Pre-independence temples at risk

Sivakumar was responding to Anwar’s statement that local councils would be directed to “clean up” (membersihkan) unauthorised temples.

PM Anwar Ibrahim

The MAP leader claimed the order is harsh and goes against the Federal Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion to all races.

“The order may stoke more hate and action against temples by certain groups… The councils in the various states may resort to issuing orders to demolish several temples that are in existence pre-independence,” he added. - Mkini