Share |

Thursday, 14 January 2010

Sikh temples told to be on guard

By B. Nandakumur - Free Malaysia Today

SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Gurdwara Council has called on Sikh temples in the country to be vigilant following the stone-throwing incident at the Sentul Gurdwara in Jalan Haji Salleh late yesterday evening.

Council president V Harcharan Singh said the community was concerned and shocked over the incident.“I’ve been receiving many calls. Everyone is worried and wondering if Sikh temples are now targets, “ he said voicing increasing concerns among Malaysian non-muslims over the turn of events and the safety of their faith.

It is a known fact that the Sikhs have also been fighting for the right to use the term “Allah” in prayer. The Council had along with the catholic weekly Herald, filed an application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court seeking the right to use the term, which appears numerous times in the original text of the Holy Scripture of the Sikhs, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Harcharan said although police believed that the stone-throwing was the work of mischievous people from the neighbouring condominium, and not related to the arson attacks, it was still a telling moment for the community.

Over the weekend eight churches were torched and a surau stoned following a massive outcry by muslims over the Dec 31 ruling by the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowing catholic weekly Herald to use the term “Allah” in their publications which is mainly circulated in Sabah and Sarawak. the court also ruled that under the Federal Constitution, the Home Ministry had no right to ban the publication.

No comments: