DAP: Temple row shows BN disregard for other religions

The government's "sacrilegious actions" in the handling of the 100-year-old KL temple 'demolition' shows BN has "utter disregard" for other religions, said DAP.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was responding to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) alleged desecration of the 101-year-old Sri Muneswarar Kalyamman Hindu temple at Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur.

"Although Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor later explained that 'the statues were removed carefully and not destroyed', a report by The Star on Sept 3 revealed that four statues had been “partially damaged due to the hammering to remove them.

"Such an approach in demolishing part of the temple and removing the statues of deities is nothing short of insensitive and high-handed. 

"Normally, the relocation of deities requires special rituals and prayers and should be done with proper care and respect," said Lim in a statement today.

DBKL's move last weekend to wall off a portion of the historic temple for the benefit of Hup Seng Consolidated Bhd that is building an apartment in the adjacent plot sparked an outcry.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy after his visit to the temple this week accused the government of "lying" over the various issues surrounding the demolition.

Apart from the web of conflicting statements from officials, politicians and the FT minister over the nature of the exercise, there were also complaints that DBKL officers had worn shoes and smoked in the temple, and had allegedly damaged statues of the deities and manhandled the temple staff.

A number of people protesting DBKL's actions, ironically just a day after Merdeka Day, were also arrested during the incident.

'Utter disregard for history, religion'

"This temple, which is the only temple for Hindus within KL’s famed Golden Triangle business hub, was built in 1911," said Lim.

"Unfortunately, DBKL’s sacrilegious actions against a place of religious worship that has served the community for more than a century merely reflects the BN government’s utter disregard for other faiths and cultures. 

"This episode comes in the wake of escalating racial and religious tension, especially against ethnic and religious minorities," he said.

Lim said this episode comes in the wake of "escalating racial and religious tension" against the country's minorities, that include the blaming of the Chinese for BN's dismal GE13 showing and the controversial Tanda Putera movie.

"As ethnic and religious minorities face increasing persecution, Prime Minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia promise has all but dissipated."