Putrajaya is preparing to table guidelines on resolving land issues affecting non-Muslim religious sites at the National Council for Local Government, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said.
In an interview with The Keywords, Loke (above) said that Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming has already briefed the cabinet on the matter, and that the framework is ready.
"So, what we hope to do now is to resolve these land issues gradually. Help them legalise their status, help them sort things out, and for those locations that are genuinely unsuitable, help them to relocate.
"However, this is an enormous undertaking. It exists in every state. Every state could have hundreds of such structures that need to be dealt with.
“Finding suitable sites is no easy matter either, but it is certainly something that must be done and addressed. So, we hope that people can see our commitment here. We are not trying to brush the problems aside. When we tackle these issues, we hope to find a long-term solution.
"The short-term approach would be to simply suppress everything and halt all enforcement actions, but stopping enforcement actions does not mean those premises are immediately legalised," he added.
Loke, who is also transport minister, said that the guidelines, once tabled, would require all local authorities across the country to comply.
Substance over optics
He said the matter was ultimately one of substance over optics, acknowledging that the government could have taken the easy and popular route by using its political weight to pressure local councils into halting all enforcement actions against non-Muslim religious sites.
While doing so would generate goodwill, he said it would only offer short-term relief to affected communities.
"So, what we hope to do through all of this is to find a proper solution. A set of government policies and guidelines on how to resolve these longstanding issues.
“The fact that previous governments did not deal with these problems does not mean we should do the same. Simply suppressing them only postpones the problem; it does not solve it. So, we hope people can see that from us," he added.
The issue of unauthorised temples and shrines has surfaced with increasing frequency of late, stoking racial tensions.
Recent weeks have seen a series of religiously charged incidents that have heightened tensions in the country.
Among those targeted were controversial Muslim preacher Zamri Vinoth and social media personality S Chandrasegaran, better known as Cikgu Chandra.
Zamri was attacked whilst travelling in his car, whilst Chandrasegaran's home was stormed, with three of his vehicles set ablaze.
The Penang police are also investigating Zamri for sedition over a TikTok livestream on March 8, where he purportedly made statements that were threatening, provocative, insulting, and racist.
Additionally, two cases of Quran desecration were recorded.
Plus, a self-styled activist, Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak was filmed stepping on a trident, known as a “soolam”, drawing widespread condemnation.
Tamim claimed ignorance over allegations that he had desecrated the trident. He claimed to have thought that the object he was filmed stepping on was just a rusty piece of metal in an unoccupied land clearing.
However, Indian community activist Umagandhan Krishnan disputed Tamim's version of events.
He said the trident was part of the Langkawi Shree Muniswarar Alayam temple, which he claimed was located on private land with permission, owned by an automotive company.
Umagandhan also said there is even a large signboard stating it was a temple.
Criticisms from MPs
The video of Tamim’s actions drew backlash from various quarters, including DAP MP RSN Rayer, who urged Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and the Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Ismail to explain the supposed lack of action against Tamim.
The Jelutong MP warned that any delay in arresting and charging Tamim could be seen as “double standards” as a previous case involving a university student stepping on the Quran was swiftly addressed by authorities.
Meanwhile, DAP’s Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid said there should be no compromise against anyone who insults any religion.
Stressing that action must be taken to prevent tensions from escalating into physical conflict, she urged those behind such acts to “think properly, think twice” before insulting a religion, as they would definitely be hunted, arrested, and punished. - Mkini
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