Surau and Hindu temple in KL riots hotspot show how to be good neighbours

The surau at the Kuala Lumpur Quarters hospital and the Temple of Goddess Kali have been sharing a common wall since 1968, before the racial riots of the following year.

KUALA LUMPUR: Fifty years ago, when someone threw a burning Malaysian flag into the Goddess of Kali Hindu temple in KL Hospital Quarters in Kampung Baru, many people feared the worst.

“It set our curtains on fire,” temple priest Narayanan Samy told FMT, recalling the incident which happened in the first two weeks of the May 1969 riots.

“We feared that the violence had come to us. But our Malay friends from the surau next door came in to reassure us and to show their support,” said Narayanan, now 79.

He said there have never been any issues between the two neighbours.

Surau treasurer Shefidi Hashim, who speaks fluent Tamil, says Malay and Indians in the Kuala Lumpur Hospital quarters are very close to one another.

Peaceful coexistence has always been normal for these places of worship. But it did not come about by accident. Harmony takes work.

Because they are physically so close, separated only by a wall in the same building since 1968, they have devised ways of living in harmony over the years.

The priest gives an example.

Priest Narayanan Samy outside the Hindu temple next to the surau.

“If they are having prayers in the surau at a certain time, we will have our prayers earlier or later. We cooperate in so many ways. It has always worked very well.”

The surau treasurer, Shefidi Hashim, confirmed that the communities are not only physically close but also good neighbours.

“Some of us understand Tamil. My neighbours and my tuition teachers were Indians.

“We know their traditions and they know ours. We respect each other,” he said.

“Everyone knows everyone else well since most of us work at this hospital.”

Narayanan Samy says his temple and the surau have devised ways of living in harmony over the years.

Kampung Baru, in downtown Kuala Lumpur not far from the Petronas Towers, was first established in the 1880s as an agricultural community to attract rural Malays into the city.

In the late 1960s it became a hotbed of political activity, and was the scene of mass racial violence in May 1969.

These days Kampung Baru is a tourist magnet renowned for its authentic Malay village food.

The adjoining houses of worship mostly cater to the hundreds of KL Hospital staff housed nearby.

Local Muslims are familiar with the temple and sometimes stroll in to the compound.

“Our Malay friends often come to see us, maybe to ask for neem leaves to ease an itch, or something like that. In return they drop a little money in the temple’s donation box,” said Narayanan.

Sahridzuan Ayub grew up knowing the Hindu priest in the neighbourhood.

“They occasionally call in to watch devotees pray and to learn about the Hindu culture. We share the same wall and have never once had any problems.”

Treasurer Shefidi said the Indian and the Malay communities at the quarters visit each other’s homes to celebrate Raya and Deepavali and other festivals together.

“During Thaipusam, after evening prayers, we Muslims wait for Kavadis to appear from our neighbour’s temple,” he said. “They pass in front of the surau without issues. We know each other’s culture.

The surau’s minaret seen with the iconic Petronas Twin Towers in the background.

“When the temple bell rings, everyone in the neighbourhood knows that it is time for Hindu prayers. They pray their way and we pray our way. There is no problem.”

A Kampung Baru resident, Sahridzuan Ayub, 53, who was at the surau when FMT visited, said residents here are proud of the ongoing peace and harmony.

“We know that during and after the riots a lot of people had different perceptions but we live in harmony,” he said.

“My parents were close to the temple priest. I grew up knowing him. In fact we all knew him well and still do.”

Local boy Zul said the temple and surau members are more like one family. “There’s no trouble. So many years here, and we have never had problems.

“We are like relatives. We know them well. Why do people think we cannot live side by side without qualms or quarrels?”

- FMT