PJ temple accused of ableism to be wheelchair-friendly soon, NGO claims

A temple in Petaling Jaya accused of discriminating against the disabled will have a temporary access route to the prayer area for wheelchair users, an NGO claimed.

Malaysia Hindhudharma Maamandram president A Radhakrishnan said representatives from his NGO and Malaysia Hindu Sangam had met with the chairperson of the Maha Sivan Alayam on Monday to discuss the matter.

During the meeting, he claimed the chairperson was adamant that wheelchair users only be allowed to worship from outside the prayer area.

"We are unable to accept his decision and the so-called policy of the temple.

"However, he has assured us that the temple will be made accessible for all disabled devotees on wheelchairs after the completion of the temple work for ‘kumbabhishegam’ (consecration)," he said in a statement today.

He added that the groups then pressured the temple to create temporary access for wheelchair users, after which they were reportedly assured that this would be done within two weeks.

On Dec 25, a video of a woman berating the management of the Maha Sivan Alayam temple management for not allowing disabled people into the prayer area went viral.

The temple previously prohibited wheelchair users from the prayer areas in 2014 as well, but it was lifted after then-disabled person senator K Bathmavathi intervened.

Temples and places of worship are considered public areas under the law and, as such, are subject to regulations such as the Uniform Building By-Law which mandates that public areas include facilities to make them accessible to the disabled.

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