The march to the secretariat building two days ago. -
Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad has blamed Umno for the shocking display of bigotry two days ago, saying the brother of the local Umno chief was one of those carrying the cow’s head to protest relocating a Hindu temple.
The PAS man’s allegation comes in the wake of accusations by other Pakatan Rakyat leaders that Umno is trying to destabilise the state government by using race baiting tactics such as painting the Malay-Muslim community as under siege from non Malays.
“I am very sure Umno is behind it,” Khalid told The Malaysian Insider today referring to the protest.
A group, claiming to be Muslim residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam, the new site of the temple which is to be relocated, held a demonstration outside the Selangor state secretariat, dragging a severed cow-head, an animal sacred in Hinduism, which they stomped and spat under the gaze of the riot police.
Some Section 23 residents have also accused Khalid, who is well known for his inclusive views, of lying and say they are fed-up with his calls for religious tolerance and accused him of neglecting the Muslim community.
But Khalid said that he had met the residents in June over the proposed temple relocation and thinks Umno has since then inflamed the sentiments of the residents.
The controversial cow-head
He cited the actions of Datuk Noh Omar, the Umno state deputy liaison chairman and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, as the catalyst for the residents’ recent inflammatory protest. Noh had made at least one visit to the proposed temple site in August and told the media that he would seek an injunction to stop the relocation adding that the Selangor government was going against the Federal Constitution by ignoring the sensitivities of Muslims, who make up the majority of residents in Section 23.Khalid claimed that the brother of Shah Alam Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Nawawi was one of the two men who were caught on video carrying the cow head.
“The residents were encouraged by the minister’s speech and backing,” said Khalid.
He noted that when the state was administered by the Barisan Nasional, they were no protests when a Hindu temple was relocated to within 100 metres of a Muslim residential area in Section 16 Shah Alam and said the current temple site being disputed is at least 200 metres away from the houses.
Asked about some residents who claimed that he had lied to them, Khalid replied that he had in fact not lied when he ran for election saying that he had always insisted on being fair, including to the Hindus even though they were a minority.
“They have rights too,” he said, pointing out that the 150 year old temple was not relocated earlier when PKNS had developed a housing area all around it and that there is only one temple for Indians living in Sections 19, 20 and 23.
On the issue of neglecting the rights of Muslims, the PAS leader pointed out that their rights as Muslims have been met because they have a surau in Section 23 but they should not assume that they have the right to reject a Hindu temple.
“They don’t have a right to reject a Hindu temple. Their right to have a surau has been fulfilled. Hindus also have a right to have a temple for the 3 sections and we also want to fulfil that right.
“The Hindus also don’t have the right to reject a surau and each community has a right to have a place if worship. We have fulfilled the right of the Muslims,” he said.
Khalid said the entire issue is a misunderstanding of rights.
“If the temple was placed in their backyard or smack in the middle of their community, I can understand if it feels awkward. But now it is far from their houses. There is no infringing on rights of Muslims. I take into account distances. They assume too much and feel they have more rights than what they have,” the PAS leader added.
He added it was not true that the state government was not willing to meet residents and when he met them in June, the requisite approvals for the relocation were still pending from PKNS, the owner of the land, the Shah Alam city council and the state government itself.
He also said that he will attend a meeting between the state government and residents on Sept 5 to discuss the burning issue.
“We are willing to listen to reason but the reasons must be sound. However, I don’t think we will entertain racist or prejudiced views.
“We should condemn prejudices and move to be more tolerant. There is a lesson to be learnt otherwise there will be another round of racist talks, speeches and acts. It’s unfortunate that after 52 years of independence, this is the kind of situation we have,” he said.
Umno has often been accused by Pakatan of trying to use race, religion and other tactics to frustrate the Selangor state government. Just weeks after Pakatan swept into power in Selangor last year, some Muslim residents in Kuala Langat made an issue over a centralised pig farm, a project that was actually mooted by the former Barisan Nasional state government.
Most recently, a controversy erupted over the aggressiveness of the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) in wanting to grill Pakatan Selangor state lawmakers while former mentri besar, Datuk Seri Khir Toyo who has been accused of corruption over the cost of his palatial Balinese style mansion, has not been probed.
The controversy took an ugly turn when Teoh Beng Hock, a DAP political aide! Was found dead just outside the MACC headquarters in Shah Alam on July 16 after he was brought in for questioning.
Khalid delivered a parting shot at MACC, referring to comments by Section 23 residents action committee chairperson Mahyuddin Manaf, who said he was mystified by the appearance of the cow head at the protest.
“There are a lot of mysteries in Shah Alam. Nobody knows how Teoh Beng Hock died. If you ask MACC, they will probably say that the cow committed suicide,” he quipped.
comments
Correct! Correct! Correct! Khalid Samad. Just as I thought all this while. UMNO is surely behind this because because they have a desperately goal to achieve..that is to bring down the Pr government in Selangor by hook or by crook. It seems by crook is more favourable. What do you expect?
This moron still thinks it rules Selangor.
As has already been pointed out numerous times before . . . minorities have been tolerant of mosques, etc. being built EVERYWHERE. What is so "bad" about a temple being built? It is not a drug house, or a vice den. It's a place of worship.
Sort of makes you think how tolerant these people are towards others.
How low can they go ? Willing to destroy national unity and racial harmony for self interests. What kind of people are these ?
"“There are a lot of mysteries in Shah Alam. Nobody knows how Teoh Beng Hock died. If you ask MACC, they will probably say that the cow committed suicide,” quipped Khalid Samad.
Yes, that's right. UMNO had gone overboard. The're willing to destroy Malaysian harmonious society just to topple the state goverment.
The malays are a "bodoh" lot to be played out by UMNO. What do they think they will get if UMNO get back into power?
UMNO will sell their dignity and their soul!
When the police does not act against a group of angry protesters, it is obvious that UMNO is behind the protest. The excuse given by the Shah Alam OCPD may go down in history as the lamest ever. He is implying that the police are willing to fire teargas and use their water canon against peaceful demonstrators but will not act in a similar manner in the case of a group of angry demonstrators or mob. What's he saying? That if a group wishes to demonstrate it should act so in an angry and violent manner?
Najib has been stressing on performance. How on earth did this OCPD rise up to the position he now occupies? Are the performance standards in the police force that low? If Najib is serious about performance the OCPD should be demoted or relived of his responsibilities. He obviously lacks sound judgment to be placed in such an important role.
If the government wants to show that they mean business in 1Malaysia, this is a very good opportunity. Charge those behind these episode for stiring up racial tension, even if they are some UMNO politicians, like brother of Shah Alam Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Nawawi, as he was one of the two men who were caught on video carrying the cow head, and Datuk Noh Omar, the Umno state deputy liaison chairman and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, as the catalyst for the residents’ recent inflammatory protest. Action not only needed to be taken, but also taken swiftly & accordingly. The nation has matured politically, and the people are watching and assessing every event. Not just the KPI minister is giving marks. It is such failure on the authority part to act impartially, professionally & promptly, that cost the rulling BN coalition votes in the last seven by-elections in the Peninsular.
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