By Sonia Ramachandran
PETALING JAYA: In Malaysia, catering for the needs of its multiracial and multi-religious society is something that is taken for granted.
We see that by the public holidays anointed for each religious festival and of course, the houses of worship that are constructed for citizens to perform their religious obligations.
But ultra-right wing Malay group Perkasa does not seem “too happy” with a Hindu temple being constructed in Precint 20 Putrajaya.
Perkasa Youth is reportedly curious as to why the Hindu temple has been constructed in a Malay-majority area with its chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris feeling the soon-to-be-completed Sri Lalithambikai Alayam temple has a “somewhat inappropriate location”.
Irwan also suggested that the temple’s entrance face Banting where there is a large Hindu population.
Former MIC strategic director Datuk Seri S Vell Paari told Theantdaily that logically, the temple being built there is just testament to the fact that the Barisan Nasional government in power understands the multi-religious nature of this country.
“In the political capital of Malaysia where the majority are Malays, and for the government to approve the building of the temple here just goes to show how much they value the multiracial aspect of this country.
“This temple will be an icon to show that Malaysia is made up of three major races and religions,” he said.
Vell Paari said there would always be one or two idiots among the sane whose statements you just need to shrug off, especially if they are insignificant in the larger scheme of things.
“Perkasa are not the policymakers. Look at them questioning the logic of building a temple there when there are not many Hindus in that vicinity. When they built Putrajaya, were there millions of people there then?
“The government knows that although there may only be about 1,500 Hindus living in Putrajaya currently, these numbers will grow. When they built the first Siva temple in Perth on 10 acres (4.04ha) of land, there were not many Hindus there either and it was about 20 km from the city but now the city has expanded to this area,” he said.
On Irwan’s suggestion to have the temple’s entrance face Banting, Vell Paari said: “I can tell them to point the direction of Perkasa’s door towards Hospital Permai in Tampoi where all the insane people are.
“When Perkasa talks like this, I don’t react. I’m not astonished, shocked or affected. Honestly, when you look at a group that is led by a man who looks like the twin brother of Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars, what do you expect?
“We Malaysians live together in harmony except for “worms” like them who are not human beings, let alone Malaysians. How can I comment on a statement by someone from the slug family? I can only comment on statements by human beings. After all, what do you expect to come out from the mouths of slugs except slime.”
According to Wikipedia, Jabba the Hutt is a character appearing in George Lucas's space opera film saga Star Wars and is depicted as a large, slug-like alien whose appearance has been described by film critic Roger Ebert as a cross between a toad and the Cheshire Cat.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Irwan had reportedly said: “There are not many Hindus in Putrajaya and if the entrance faces Banting, this would make it easier for them to reach the temple.
“Although I am not sure of the exact figure, I know the majority of those living in Putrajaya are Malays.”
Irwan did, however, stress that it was the temple’s location they were questioning, not the freedom of religion.
“We will not hold demonstrations over the matter as we respect the other religions,” he said, adding that he would be meeting with the local authority, Perbadanan Putrajaya (Putrajaya Corporation), to obtain a more detailed explanation on the matter as well as Putrajaya Perkasa Youth.
There are approximately 1,500 Hindus living in Putrajaya mostly comprising civil servants.
In January 2013, former MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, who also happens to be Vell Paari’s father, announced the construction of the temple – dubbed the “most unique temple in the country” – at a cost of RM12 million.
Just because the Hindus are a minority in Putrajaya, does Irwan expect them not to have a proper place of worship?
Does he expect them to travel long distances out of Putrajaya to pray?
What about the Hindus in Cyberjaya as well?
Another thing that is baffling is that the temple is “soon-to-be-completed”.
Wouldn’t Irwan have seen the construction going on from 2013? Didn’t he realise the location then?
And the construction of the temple had been publicised in the press.
Why is he questioning it when it is almost done? Does he expect it to be torn down or relocated?
Or is this just a ploy for publicity on a day when he just can’t seem to find any issue to make some inflammatory or incendiary remark and gain some cheap publicity?
After all, without such remarks, Irwan will just be another “Tom, Dick or Harry” on the road with absolutely no claim to fame.
- See more at: http://www.theantdaily.com/Main/What-is-it-with-you-now-Perkasa-Why-target-Hindu-temple-in-Putrajaya
PETALING JAYA: In Malaysia, catering for the needs of its multiracial and multi-religious society is something that is taken for granted.
We see that by the public holidays anointed for each religious festival and of course, the houses of worship that are constructed for citizens to perform their religious obligations.
But ultra-right wing Malay group Perkasa does not seem “too happy” with a Hindu temple being constructed in Precint 20 Putrajaya.
Perkasa Youth is reportedly curious as to why the Hindu temple has been constructed in a Malay-majority area with its chief Irwan Fahmi Ideris feeling the soon-to-be-completed Sri Lalithambikai Alayam temple has a “somewhat inappropriate location”.
Irwan also suggested that the temple’s entrance face Banting where there is a large Hindu population.
Former MIC strategic director Datuk Seri S Vell Paari told Theantdaily that logically, the temple being built there is just testament to the fact that the Barisan Nasional government in power understands the multi-religious nature of this country.
“In the political capital of Malaysia where the majority are Malays, and for the government to approve the building of the temple here just goes to show how much they value the multiracial aspect of this country.
“This temple will be an icon to show that Malaysia is made up of three major races and religions,” he said.
Vell Paari said there would always be one or two idiots among the sane whose statements you just need to shrug off, especially if they are insignificant in the larger scheme of things.
“Perkasa are not the policymakers. Look at them questioning the logic of building a temple there when there are not many Hindus in that vicinity. When they built Putrajaya, were there millions of people there then?
“The government knows that although there may only be about 1,500 Hindus living in Putrajaya currently, these numbers will grow. When they built the first Siva temple in Perth on 10 acres (4.04ha) of land, there were not many Hindus there either and it was about 20 km from the city but now the city has expanded to this area,” he said.
On Irwan’s suggestion to have the temple’s entrance face Banting, Vell Paari said: “I can tell them to point the direction of Perkasa’s door towards Hospital Permai in Tampoi where all the insane people are.
“When Perkasa talks like this, I don’t react. I’m not astonished, shocked or affected. Honestly, when you look at a group that is led by a man who looks like the twin brother of Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars, what do you expect?
“We Malaysians live together in harmony except for “worms” like them who are not human beings, let alone Malaysians. How can I comment on a statement by someone from the slug family? I can only comment on statements by human beings. After all, what do you expect to come out from the mouths of slugs except slime.”
According to Wikipedia, Jabba the Hutt is a character appearing in George Lucas's space opera film saga Star Wars and is depicted as a large, slug-like alien whose appearance has been described by film critic Roger Ebert as a cross between a toad and the Cheshire Cat.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Irwan had reportedly said: “There are not many Hindus in Putrajaya and if the entrance faces Banting, this would make it easier for them to reach the temple.
“Although I am not sure of the exact figure, I know the majority of those living in Putrajaya are Malays.”
Irwan did, however, stress that it was the temple’s location they were questioning, not the freedom of religion.
“We will not hold demonstrations over the matter as we respect the other religions,” he said, adding that he would be meeting with the local authority, Perbadanan Putrajaya (Putrajaya Corporation), to obtain a more detailed explanation on the matter as well as Putrajaya Perkasa Youth.
There are approximately 1,500 Hindus living in Putrajaya mostly comprising civil servants.
In January 2013, former MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu, who also happens to be Vell Paari’s father, announced the construction of the temple – dubbed the “most unique temple in the country” – at a cost of RM12 million.
Just because the Hindus are a minority in Putrajaya, does Irwan expect them not to have a proper place of worship?
Does he expect them to travel long distances out of Putrajaya to pray?
What about the Hindus in Cyberjaya as well?
Another thing that is baffling is that the temple is “soon-to-be-completed”.
Wouldn’t Irwan have seen the construction going on from 2013? Didn’t he realise the location then?
And the construction of the temple had been publicised in the press.
Why is he questioning it when it is almost done? Does he expect it to be torn down or relocated?
Or is this just a ploy for publicity on a day when he just can’t seem to find any issue to make some inflammatory or incendiary remark and gain some cheap publicity?
After all, without such remarks, Irwan will just be another “Tom, Dick or Harry” on the road with absolutely no claim to fame.
- See more at: http://www.theantdaily.com/Main/What-is-it-with-you-now-Perkasa-Why-target-Hindu-temple-in-Putrajaya
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