PM, govt must defuse online attacks on 'illegal' temples - LFL
Published: Apr 19, 2025 12:31 PM
Updated: 3:40 PM
Summary
- Lawyers for Liberty wants a stop to the use of “illegal” and “haram” to describe houses of worship, even if they are on disputed land.
- Zaid Malek warns that the government’s handling of the issue has fueled intolerance, especially on social media, where targeted harassment of Hindu temples is on the rise.
- Anwar Ibrahim was accused of politicising the KL temple relocation, framing it as a religious victory to gain Malay-Muslim support, which further alienates religious minorities.
Lawyers for Liberty urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the government to defuse the recent controversies over 'illegal temples', saying they were responsible for the issue.
In a statement today, LFL director Zaid Malek called on both to publicly declare against using the word "haram" for any house of worship, even if it is located on disputed land.
He added that Anwar also must refrain from using the word "illegal" in describing any house of worship on disputed land.
Zaid also called on the government to counter "irresponsible parties" who campaign on social media over the matter, adding it could create ill-will.
"To deny that discourse on the issue is tainted with growing racial and religious intolerance would be a folly and at worst, an act of complicity.
"The government has failed to address the increasing intolerance and has only exacerbated the sentiment.
"Anwar bears substantial responsibility for this," he said in a statement today.
Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur before the relocation
The issue began with news of the relocation of the 130-year-old Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple along Jalan Masjid India to make way for a mosque.
At the time, Anwar said the temple had to be relocated and the issue must be handled according to the law.
The temple’s relocation sparked polarised reactions, with a segment of social media users focusing on the legal status of Hindu temples.
A Facebook group was also created to report such temples.
Zaid noted that most of the hostility is coming from "one ethnic group", calling it a disturbing and concerning trend.
He referred to a video that went viral on social media, in which he said a Malay man was seen "harassing" a worshipper at a small Hindu temple.
"The man alleged that the temple was 'illegally built' and even encouraged others to carry out similar acts at other places of worship.
"This video was posted on a group on social media that is purportedly against the erection of structures on government land without permission; yet the posts in the group overwhelmingly target temples and, in the process, blatantly insult the worshippers of the Hindu religion.
"This is clearly indicative that the overt concern over the legality of the temples merely serves as a smokescreen to sow hatred of minorities and their right to practice their religion," Zaid said.
Champion of Islam
He said Anwar had othered religious minorities in Malaysia by attempting to position himself as a champion for Islam to gain political clout among Malay-Muslims.
"Anwar also framed the issue as a conflict of religion between the majority and the minority, warning the people from viewing the Muslims as weak and later claiming the successful negotiation of the temple’s relocation as a 'victory' for Islam," Zaid added.
Anwar earlier said Islam does not teach its worshippers to be hostile to others or destroy their belongings, but warned against mistaking Muslims as weak.
After the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple committee agreed to the relocation, Anwar launched the new mosque's groundbreaking ceremony, where he called the planned construction a "victory" after a decade of stalled development.
The issue began with news of the relocation of the 130-year-old Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple along Jalan Masjid India to make way for a mosque.
At the time, Anwar said the temple had to be relocated and the issue must be handled according to the law.
The temple’s relocation sparked polarised reactions, with a segment of social media users focusing on the legal status of Hindu temples.
A Facebook group was also created to report such temples.
Zaid noted that most of the hostility is coming from "one ethnic group", calling it a disturbing and concerning trend.
He referred to a video that went viral on social media, in which he said a Malay man was seen "harassing" a worshipper at a small Hindu temple.
"The man alleged that the temple was 'illegally built' and even encouraged others to carry out similar acts at other places of worship.
"This video was posted on a group on social media that is purportedly against the erection of structures on government land without permission; yet the posts in the group overwhelmingly target temples and, in the process, blatantly insult the worshippers of the Hindu religion.
"This is clearly indicative that the overt concern over the legality of the temples merely serves as a smokescreen to sow hatred of minorities and their right to practice their religion," Zaid said.
Champion of Islam
He said Anwar had othered religious minorities in Malaysia by attempting to position himself as a champion for Islam to gain political clout among Malay-Muslims.
"Anwar also framed the issue as a conflict of religion between the majority and the minority, warning the people from viewing the Muslims as weak and later claiming the successful negotiation of the temple’s relocation as a 'victory' for Islam," Zaid added.
Anwar earlier said Islam does not teach its worshippers to be hostile to others or destroy their belongings, but warned against mistaking Muslims as weak.
After the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple committee agreed to the relocation, Anwar launched the new mosque's groundbreaking ceremony, where he called the planned construction a "victory" after a decade of stalled development.