The Shree Deva Maruthuvar Jada Muniswarar Alayam temple, located at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital, Penang, today held its annual celebration, with prayers attended by local Hindu devotees.
The ceremonies today were held peacefully under heavy police presence, amid tension sparked by calls to protest houses of worship built on disputed land.
As part of the rituals, devotees offered prayers at the temple by the hospital’s entrance, while healthcare workers, patients, and other visitors carried out their activities in the compound.
Earlier, Penang police set up a roadblock leading to the temple and hospital.
The increased police presence was in response to a cancelled protest, dubbed “Operasi Terjahan Rumah Anutan Haram”, and to an earlier warning for the public to refrain from participating.
Protest organiser and NGO leader Sophian Zain called off today’s protest after discussions with local police.
Local devotees and temple leaders maintained that the structure is “older than the hospital” and should be preserved, while critics argued that it should be removed based on the official land ownership status.
When contacted, Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) chairperson RSN Rayer said the prayers today were conducted without disruption.
“The prayers went on peacefully without any disruptions, and I represented PHEB together with vice-chairperson Senator A Lingeshwaran, and commissioners J Dhinagaran and K Kumaran,” said the Jelutong MP.
Sophian, however, said another gathering will be held outside the Seberang Perai Tengah district police station today, and the groups had merely “postponed” plans to protest the temple.
Regarding the change of protest location to the Seberang Jaya police district headquarters, Rayer said, “They should respect the directive given by the police and should not gather anywhere.”
Details surrounding the second gathering are unclear, but Sophian was seen in a brief one-minute live video shared by controversial preacher Zamri Vinoth earlier today.
Zamri, in another Facebook post, also alleged that he was targeted by unidentified assailants who threw rocks at his car and broke a window. - Mkini
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