Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak, a self-proclaimed land activist, is once again in hot water after a clip of him allegedly desecrating a sacred Hindu symbol made the rounds online, leading to fierce condemnation and calls for authorities to act.
The clip in question, which depicts an individual repeatedly stepping on a trident, known as a soolam, at an unidentified outdoor site, has since caused an uproar among Hindu devotees, with a number of police reports lodged over the past few days.
A protest was also held outside the Sentul district police headquarters last night, which Pertubuhan Perpaduan Puratchi Malaysia founder K Umagandhan claimed about 200 people from across the country attended.
Heightened tensions over the incident come on the heels of raised heckles over online content on the desecration of the Quran, which saw the prosecution of 21-year-old university student S Vikneswaran.
In a statement yesterday, Sentosa assemblyperson Gunaraj George referenced the incident involving the Quran, stressing that in the interest of justice and equality before the law, the same legal action must be taken against those who insult the sacred symbols of other religions.
Noting that he has filed a police report against the video of the trident being damaged, the PKR state representative also called on all Malaysians to remain calm and not be influenced by any provocation.
Expressing similar sentiments, activist Arun Dorasamy slammed the filming and sharing of the video as a “classic case of provocation,” asserting that the matter should be deemed “equivalent to” the case involving the desecration of the Quran.
“Both (the trident and the Quran) are religious symbols. When the law works for the Quran, it should work for the soolam as well,” Arun told Malaysiakini.
“What do the police and the government expect us Hindus to do? Just be victims?
“We are at the brink of something bad, and if the situation is not neutralised through law and order, things are only going to get worse,” the Temple Preservation Action Team (Tepat) chairperson said.
Fair and equal law enforcement
In a Facebook post, the Malaysia Hindhudharma Maamandram shared a letter addressed to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, with the Hindu NGO questioning whether an insult to a sacred symbol can be considered something acceptable or taken lightly.
“The principle of the rule of law demands that law enforcement be carried out fairly and equally, regardless of religion, race, or an individual’s background.
“Bias or failure to take firm action against acts that insult religion may create the perception that the sensitivities of certain religions are not given appropriate protection,” the NGO’s president, Rishi Kumar Vadivelu, wrote in the letter dated March 9.
He also urged the Home Ministry, the police, and the relevant agencies to carry out a thorough investigation and take firm action against the individual involved in the incident.
Amid escalating unease over the defiling of the trident, Arun told Malaysiakini that his Facebook content has been restricted in the nation, with the platform informing him that the action is due to a “legal request” from the MCMC.
He also claimed that all of his videos on TikTok have been removed.
It also appears that MCMC restricted one of Tamim’s Facebook pages yesterday, with local users unable to access his posts.
In a post via a separate Facebook account, Tamim confirmed that he is no longer able to access the page targeted by the MCMC, which has yet to respond to media requests for comments on the action.
Failure to act will be seen as double standard
Referencing the Quran incident, DAP lawmaker RSN Rayer called on the authorities to display the same steadfastness and firmness.
“Any delay or failure by the authorities to act swiftly, strictly and decisively will be construed as a selective prosecution and double standard, further causing anguish and anger amongst Malaysians who want to live peacefully and harmoniously in this country,” the Jelutong MP said.
Tamim, who has been at the forefront of campaigning against unauthorised temples, previously courted controversy after he began demolishing the Sri Utchimalai Hindu temple in Rawang Perdana.
Landowner Yayasan Kubra said they had sought Tamim’s assistance to clear the illegal structure to make way for the construction of a housing project for poor people on the plot.
The demolition, which took place on Feb 25 after statues of deities were relocated, led to a confrontation between Tamim, who carried out the activity with three friends, and several individuals defending the temple.
The temple’s management has since filed a suit in the Selayang Magistrate Court over the place of worship’s alleged unlawful demolition.
Lawyers for the temple’s management have also disputed claims alleging that the temple management had voluntarily vacated the site. - Mkini
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