The Home Ministry has urged members of the public to refrain from holding any public assemblies during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit this weekend.
While the statement did not name any particular rally, the date coincides with a planned protest tomorrow night against “illegal” places of worship – a cause that often affects Hindu temples.
In addition, a counter-demonstration is planned on Sunday.
“The Home Ministry, through the police, is responsible for arranging all security preparations for the visit and ensuring there are no incidents that could cause disruption or disturb public order.
“Therefore, members of the public are urged not to hold any rallies in public places throughout the official visit.
“The police will meet with assembly organisers and ask them to cooperate and discontinue the planned rally,” it said in its statement today.
Modi’s visit on Saturday and Sunday is in return for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s visit to India in August 2024.
The leaders of the two countries are expected to explore further collaboration, particularly in trade and investment, defence and security, labour, tourism, connectivity, agriculture, and education, Wisma Putra said.
‘Dates are mere coincidence’
Malaysiakini has contacted Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship Movement coordinator Zamri Vinoth for comment.
Previously, Zamri had denied that tomorrow’s protest had anything to do with Modi’s visit, and the dates were merely a coincidence.
The protest is said to involve about 141 NGOs demanding enforcement action against places of worship built without approval.
Other groups such as Pusat Komas has described the protest as “regressive” and called for a less confrontational approach instead, as Hindu temples in Malaysia have a complex relationship with official recognition, further complicated by post-colonial laws.
Last year, amid the resurgence of discussions on temples without formal recognition, former Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam said older temples in Malaysia were often built in jungles by estate workers the British brought in from South Asia.
He explained that many of the temples then became exposed to the public when decades of development turned the estates into urban areas.
Counter-protest postponed
Meanwhile, the organisers of the protest scheduled for Sunday at India Gate, Brickfields, have agreed to postpone it to a new date.
“We were informed by the police that the assembly to sow hatred against the Hindu community is also not allowed tomorrow.
“On the advice of the Brickfields district police headquarters, the Hindu Temple Task Force is postponing the peaceful assembly scheduled for Feb 8 to Feb 15,” it said.
The rally slated for Sunday is to protest the police’s purported refusal to act against those who have allegedly insulted Hindus in the country.
Its adviser, Satees Muniandy, said the group respects the police request to ensure Malaysia’s image is not affected during the visit of a foreign leader.
“This assembly is postponed, not out of fear, but because we are a society that does not want the country's image to be tarnished,” he added. - Mkini
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