Temple riot: Let’s blame somebody, everybody

I feel sorry the Seafield temple fracas happened. I feel even more sorry that fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim died so needlessly in the prime of his life.

You know what; I want to blame someone and everyone today. I am in the mood of doing that now.

I want to blame the Selangor state government, both under the present and previous menteri besar. Why didn’t the state government execute the consent order quickly and professionally using the government machinery?

I want to blame those managing the temple too. Why refuse to move when money has been paid and a new temple site has been given? Which faction of the temple must the authorities and landowner “do business” with?

I want to blame someone who employed thugs to ask those at the temple to relocate. I blame unauthorised forces used in the process.

I want to blame bigots for causing resentment by claiming that the temple was indiscriminately built. Hello, that temple was there when the whole area was still Seafield estate.

I want to blame the police for not sending a sufficient number of personnel to maintain order.

I want to blame why the police, the home minister, and the menteri besar did not come up with clear statements quickly.

I want to ask why Indian Cabinet ministers and an Indian Selangor exco must get themselves involved in the matter so quickly. Are they implying Indian temples are the responsibility of Indian ministers? I blame them for not thinking through the issue given the sensitivity involved.

I want to blame the people at large. Why must they be so emotional? After the riot on the first night, why did they still have so much pent-up anger on the second night?

I appreciate that the police was patient, but when the situation on the second night became volatile, I blame them for not being assertive enough to control the crowd.

Sometimes I just don’t understand. We go to places of worship to seek God. Surely that must grant us patience, self-control and serenity. Surely God and places of worship must make a difference to us. So, who do I blame when I see people becoming so easily agitated, emotional and irrational for wanting to “protect” their places of worship.

See, I am good at blaming others too. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waytha Moorthy is not the only one to be blamed. He is just an easy target.

Now, I want to blame a colleague of Waytha Moorthy for supporting the call to have him dismissed from the Cabinet. Where is the collective Cabinet responsibility?

Sometimes ministers who are still wet behind their ears, either in age or experience, should think a little deeper before they open their mouths.

Don’t be smug, many were young once.

TK Chua is an FMT reader.