MIC chief reveals plan to protect Hindu temples

It covers Hindu temples built illegally, in govt bid to pacify Indians

MALAYSIA'S government unveiled a major initiative yesterday to protect Hindu temples in an apparent bid to pacify ethnic Indians who complained that hundreds have been demolished in this Muslim-majority country.

Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), said that the Prime Minister had asked him to 'continuously monitor' all the temples in the country and submit reports on their status periodically.

'As temples are a sensitive matter, a new approach is necessary to resolve the issue and the MIC will take over completely this task,' he said in a statement here yesterday.

'I will scrutinise all matters pertaining to temples with a view to ensuring that none are demolished in the future. And if they have to be demolished, suitable alternative sites must be found so that Hindus can continue to worship,' he said.

Datuk Seri Samy is Malaysia's sole Indian Cabinet minister and his party is the biggest Indian political party in the country and the community's main voice.

The destruction of Hindu temples deemed to have been illegally built was one of the main grievances of impoverished ethnic Indians who poured onto the streets on Nov 25 in an unprecedented anti-government rally.

The violent street protest stunned Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's administration, unused to such public displays of anger, and raised fears of ethnic and racial tensions in this normally peaceful country.

Datuk Seri Samy Vellu said in the statement that he would be travelling nationwide soon to report on the number of temples in the country and their problems.

'We will identify the illegally-built temples first and check on their status. We want to know if there have been any moves or notices to demolish or relocate them,' he said.

The Prime Minister 'specifically wanted' a list of all temples that are to be demolished for whatever reason, said the chief of the MIC.

The government maintains that it demolishes only temples built illegally on state or private land.

But Indian community leaders have said that many of the temples were built on plantations during British colonial rule, with permission from the then-owners.

They say that after independence in 1957, the government failed to legalise the temples or list them as national property even though mosques were given that privilege.

'No temple, either legal or illegally built, will be demolished without a thorough check and discussion with the MIC,' Datuk Seri Samy said.

He also said that two MIC leaders had been appointed to organise meetings involving temple chiefs in their respective states, and that he would chair these meetings.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, BERNAMA