Sect 23 resident Sukhani has resorted to flying Umno flags to show his anger.
For the residents of the middle class Taman Ixora neighbourhood in Section 23 here, the cow-head protest after Friday prayers underlined their anger and frustration against a government unwilling to heed their views.
While they have mixed feelings about brandishing a cow-head during the protest, they are adamant in not wanting the Section 19 Sri Mahamariamman Temple relocated to their predominantly Malay-Muslim neighbourhood, more so near the Surau Al-Jannah.
The faded graffiti on the zinc fence surrounding the disputed site reflected their feelings.
“We object to this temple”, “Pakatan Rakyat cannot be trusted” and “Rodziah babi” were written on the fence. Rodziah Ismail is the Batu Tiga state assemblywoman, which covers the area, and an executive councillor in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.
Graffiti near the proposed site of the temple makes it clear how residents here feel
Graffiti near the proposed site of the temple makes it clear how residents here feel. — Picture By Choo Choy May
On Friday, they went a step further to show that they were at the end of their tether by holding a noisy demonstration outside the Selangor state secretariat, dragging a severed cow-head which they stomped and spat on. The act is offensive to Hindus, who regard cows as sacred.
Although riot police stood by at the state secretariat, they are in full force at the neighbourhood multi-purpose hall beside the proposed temple site, which is now a lush green field.
Shah Alam OCPD ACP Noor Azam Jamaludin said they had been stationed there before the protest and will remain until Sept 3.
On a visit to the neighbourhood, the Malay residents expressed anger and felt it was unsuitable for the temple to be built in a predominantly Muslim community.
They also argued the location was not strategic because there is only one major exit from the neighbourhood to the main highway and the temple would likely create congestion in the area.
Others also felt that they have been cheated and abandoned by their Muslim PR leaders.
Having the temple so close to their playground will stop children from playing there, parents claim
Having the temple so close to their playground will stop children from playing there, parents claim. — Picture By Choo Choy May
“I attended yesterday’s demonstration because this is my neighbourhood and I must show support. That is what I want. I hung this Umno flag, but I voted one for Khalid Samad and Rodziah. I voted for PKR but I felt cheated. I have this Umno flag to show my anger,” Sukhani Mohd Jamil stressed, venting his anger at the state lawmakers.
Khalid Samad is the Shah Alam MP, which encompasses this neighbourhood in the predominantly Malay constituency.
The 30 year old father explained that neighbourhood had objected when they learned the temple was planned to built near their homes but they did not receive any response.
Sukhani felt cheated when he learned that the state government had not consulted the residents and approved the building of the temple.
“I’ve never felt this spirit. This is not about race hatred. Take whatever land but not near our housing areas. I am really disappointed,” he said.
The Section 23 action committee against the temple construction had sent a protest memorandum to Rodziah explaining that the temple was just 160 metres from the houses, 50 metres from a playground and 150 metres from Surau Al-Jannah. They demanded a public hearing but the Batu Tiga state assemblyman said it was unnecessary as the area was industrial land.
There was also fear in some of the residents as they are afraid that this issue might explode into a racial backlash
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Some residents, like Mainora, fear the issue could turn into a powder keg.
Some residents, like Mainora, fear the issue could turn into a powder keg. — Picture By Choo Choy May
“Of course, nobody wants the temple. It is too near to the playground. This has become an issue. I am scared that this will lead to fighting. They are too sensitive on this issue. Can you ask Rodziah why she wants to build it there?” Mainora Muir Hassan explained.
The mother of four stressed that the temple was not in the plans when they bought the house and questioned if the state government can do this.
“If there is not any temple, then we won’t buy. The price of our houses will also fall. Khalid wants tolerance but how can there be tolerance when it is near to the surau?” she added.
Pakatan Rakyat politicians claimed that most of the protesters were not from Section 23 and the demonstration was orchestrated by Umno.
However, local residents refuted this claim and said it was unfair because they are fighting for their neighbourhood and not for any political party.
“It is not a question of Umno or not, we are all Muslims. I am disappointed that a Muslim leader has neglected the Muslim community. Our religion has been sidetracked,” Latiff Roslan said.
The businessman was confused why the state government had decided to build the temple near their homes when there was no objection to build the temple in Section 22 as originally planned.
“Playground is for our children, children won’t go there to play and parents won’t allow them to play. Why is this temple made into an issue? People have objected to this temple so the government should stop the project.
“I read in the papers, that they want to move the temple by 300 metres. There is no land for the temple to be relocated by 300 metres. They want to put in the temple in the factory? So they are trying to lie to us and we cannot accept it,” he said.
The predominantly Malay-Muslim residents feel a sense of betrayal by their elected representatives.
The predominantly Malay-Muslim residents feel a sense of betrayal by their elected representatives. — Picture By Choo Choy May
The residents feel that they are being neglected by their leaders and are fed-up with Khalid’s call for religious tolerance.
“Khalid Samad is a liar, he likes to tell lies. He is scared to face the people. If the temple can be relocated by 300 metres, why not five kilometres? They asked us to tolerant. We can be tolerant but they must find a suitable location,” Azman Abdul Majid said.
The Telekom Malaysia employee added that politicians are abandoning religion for votes.
There were mixed emotions on the severed cow-head being used in the demonstration but they agree that the protestors just wanted to show their anger.
The residents are planning to seek a court injunction if the state government continues its plans to build the temple there.
comments
Lots of non-Muslims tolerate mosques being built in their areas. A multi racial society involves give and take. We should not encourage the creation of racial or religious enclaves. Further, I am puzzled how the presence of a temple affects the practice of their own faith. Some of these residents claim to be tolerant, but the lack of it is precisely what they seem to be exhibiting. Are they even aware of this fact, or have they been so brainwashed by UMNO, that they cannot see what the rest of the world sees : practitioners of a religion only in form, but not in substance.
So if the residents must have their way, let it be then . But what goes around may come around. Next month you may find non muslims objecting to suraus being built on playgrounds elsewhere. Non muslims may feel that a surau built on a playground just behind their homes affects the value of their homes. That when they bought the homes in the first place there was no mention of surau being built next to their homes on playgrounds. Some of them paid more for homes facing playgrounds. That is not safe to send non muslim children to play in a playground that has a surau built on it. It takes a bunch ignorant people to undo years of good.
What is happening now I blame the Umno govt for NOT allocating land for temples and churches to be built.
However in every housing estate land is always allocated for mosques and suraus to be built and why is this so if the Constitution guarantees freedom of worship and religion? Why this official blatant discrimination? Can anyone come up with an answer to this double standard?
The adherents of other religions have kept quiet all these years but that doesnt mean they are happy with this kind of treatment. As a consequence you find all sorts of illegal temples and shoplot churches springing up everywhere bcos they are denied a proper piece of land to build their house of worship. Now do we find illegal mosques and suraus springing up everywhere? Section 23 muslims feel a sense of betrayal by the Selangor state govt on this matter and may I ask them what do they think that not allocating land by the govt to the non muslims to build their house of worship a fair thing or a betrayal too?
In the pre 1970s you can see houses of worship of different religions coexisting without this kind of religious polarisation manifesting and threatening bloodshed and committing sacreligious acts. It is not that PR is insensitive to the Section 23 muslims as this problem of lack of land to build temples and churches is created by Umno for the last 40 years. Now are we going to object if the PR state govt decides to allocate land for the purpose of building churches and temples along with mosques and suraus in mixed housing estates?
If Muslim's feel that it is not a suitable location for a Hindu Temple, I think that it is ok. If the Muslim leaders and community tried to find an alternate location for the Hindu Temple, that would have been even better. It's about give and take. And in Malaysia it should be the majority race who should try to accommodate the needs of the minority races, trying to find solutions for them which does not infringe on your own. Swift and severe action should be taken against those who desecrated the cow head so that the minorities feel safe and that their rights are also being protected in a fair manner.
In America, most of the citizens are either Christian or atheist and they allowed Muslims to build mosque in their neighborhood. There were even Muslims that convert old Church building to Mosque. Sometimes, people criticized American for being racist but I sometimes I'm a little amazed that Malaysians are worse than American. Did you know some Church even invite Imams to give speech at their Church? In Malaysia, the Muslims population are the majority so can we be allowed to build other religious building in this country? I know there are a lot very rational and non-racist Malaysian unlike the demonstrators. I hope they can openly condemn these demonstrators. We're all fellow Malaysians that want to practice our religion freely. I hope fellow Malaysians can respect each other. Lastly, majority of us are Malaysians that respect others!
Is Section 23 people is some kind of jungle? That they need so much space to migle with their own kind only? That they scared that their children that the 'dark peope' will kidnap them? If like that, then start your own communal place la.
Why are there so many mosques in Penang, a place which is predominantly Chinese?
This shows UMNO Malays are fanatics.
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