Amid rising ethnic and religious tensions over the issue of unauthorised temples and other provocations, a group of Muslim and Hindu activists met in Putrajaya last night to move towards peace.
While the meeting reportedly moved in a positive direction, tensions are brewing with prominent Hindu politicians and one firebrand Muslim figure who were not present, pouring cold water over the reconciliation efforts.
According to various media reports, the gathering in Putrajaya yesterday evening was organised as part of the Madani Harmony programme, although it was not made clear who actually called for the meeting.
The reports stated that 20 Muslim and 10 Hindu representatives took part in the discussions - and proposed, among others, for the Prime Minister's Department to set up a special committee, and for there to be a land audit on temples.
Malaysia Muslim Lawyers Association president Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar and Malaysian Hindu and Temples Association president N Sivakumar both spoke positively of the meeting at a press conference after, with the Muslim lawyer saying there will be further discussions.
"We are working to extinguish current hotspots. We will engage in dialogue and discussions directly with each other, rather than responding to third-party commentary or provocation. This is a first step, and we want to move forward," Zainul was quoted as saying by NST.
Sivakumar - who is also MIC treasurer-general - echoed a similar sentiment, adding that there was a need to preserve national harmony.
"We live together in one country, a harmonious Malaysia. But because of one or two people, because of their words and actions, we must overlook them and instead focus on finding peace," he said.
Fewer Hindu figures present?
Others present at the meeting representing the Muslim side included controversial preachers Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong.
However, the Hindu side appeared to have fewer prominent figures other than Sivakumar - who is also the son of Batu Caves temple committee chairperson R Nadarajah.
Also present was social media influencer S Chandrasegaran - better known as Cikgu Chandra - who is a known ally to various Muslim groups.
However, it appeared that two DAP politicians - Jelutong MP RSN Rayer and senator RA Lingeshwaran - were supposed to be at the meeting as well.
Lingeshwaran had, in a Facebook post yesterday morning, said that he and Rayer were flying down to Kuala Lumpur and teased that an extraordinary event was being organised.
But later at 6pm, the senator posted an update saying the duo were just stopping for teh tarik and would be flying back to Penang.
Refusing to attend
When contacted, Rayer said they were originally informed that Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Ismail would be present.
"After arriving in Kuala Lumpur, we found out that the IGP will not be involved in the meeting. Further, we were also informed that Zamri and Wong would be coming to the meeting.
"We refused to attend!" he told Malaysiakini.
He remarked that it took more than 1,000 police reports before Zamri was charged over calls for a rally against unauthorised Hindu temples.
Further, he said the preacher still has not been charged over using derogatory remarks against Hindus, as well as for allegedly inciting violence during a speech in Bukit Mertajam.
"Since independence, we Malaysians have lived in this country peacefully and harmoniously despite coming from diverse religious, racial, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic backgrounds, simply because we have mutual respect and tolerance.
"What the so-called peace brokers of yesterday's meeting have all failed to recognise is that the situation would not have escalated to this level of alarm, judging from the comments on social media, if prompt action was taken by the authorities on individuals who spread hate," Rayer said.
Meeting criticised
Zamri, in a post aimed at Rayer and Lingeshwaran last night, questioned what their real agenda was after skipping the meeting.
But the DAP leaders were not the only critics of the peace gathering.
Posting on Threads while performing the umrah, fugitive and self-proclaimed land activist Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak, also mocked the meeting and appeared to incite his followers.
He said Malaysia was one of the few countries that allowed for "illegal" temples, while claiming that it also involved elements of gangsterism and alcoholism - allegations that pander to racist stereotypes of the Indian community.
He then quipped: "Was bihun (rice vermicelli) served at the peace talks?"
In a follow-up post, he also prayed for Malays to be more "brave" and "smart".
Replies to his posts also indicated that his supporters rejected the peace talks.
Tamim was supposed to be charged on Monday over stepping on a sacred Hindu symbol in Langkawi. However, his case has been put on hold pending his return. - Mkini
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