Should the temple moved out from Section 23? A Muslim perspective

ARCHIVES 2009

By admin-s On Sep 7, 2009

By Dr. Rafick

1. Someone commented in my blog that may be it is best the temple be moved out from Section 23 to avoid bigger tragedy in the near future. As a Muslim, I say that is probably the worst thing anyone can do under the current circumstances. Running away is never a solution and in this case it can be a precedent to bigger things.

2. Over the last 52 years since Merdeka, we have been living in under the false pretences that everything is fine with multi ethnic Malaysia and it seems that over the last 52 years things were made to look fine because we were asked to tolerate our neighbors and not accept them as what they are. The politicians has been dividing the people and ruling the country for their own self interest. In the next few paragraph, I will explain why I feel the temple should stay in Section 23.

3. In addressing the temple issue, we need to understand the background of the issue. My own take on the matter may not be accurate as I based on information told to me by friends and what I have researched on the internet. The million dollar question that we need to ask is –Is it really about the temple or about politics with the aim of destabilizing the state government?

4. From what can be seen since the infamous march with a cow head, the involvement of Dato Noh Omar and the open backing of Hishamuddin and the most recent action of few residents during the town hall meeting in Shah Alam, it can be concluded that there are bigger things at play here rather than the temple issue itself. A few ground pawns have been doing their part effectively because they know they have a big umbrella protecting them.

5. In dealing with this matter, I believe the law of the land must be respected. If the Selangor Government chose to relocate the Sri Mariaman temple (SMT), it appears that it has failed in its responsibility and the respect to the law. It would appear that a government would give in to the thugs. Is the government so weak?

6. Some people think that the whole Malay residents of Section 23 do not want the temple there. In reality, the basic issues that need to be asked are whether they have any right to object? What is their basis of objection? They keep saying it is because of “Muslim Sensitivity” but yet they cannot justify to meaning of the phrase.

7. From my observation, the people that is echoing and propagating this “Muslim Sensitivity” are very few. They are a core group of people that is responsible in inciting and poisoning the minds of the residents of Section 23. The master mind that is poisoning the peoples mind in that area is only 4-5 of them. Majorities are fence sitter who doesn’t know what is right and what is wrong.