LFL repeats 'mosque next to temple' plan, hits out at Anwar

Summary

• Lawyers for Liberty insists that the Hindu temple should be retained while the proposed mosque can be built next to it, in response to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s “the mosque will be built, and the temple be given a place” remark.

• Its executive director Zaid Malek says right-thinking Malaysians would support the idea.

• He also slams the premier for saying the temple was built illegally, adding it was moved to the current site in 2008 under DBKL’s instruction.

An advocate for the preservation of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple in Kuala Lumpur has reiterated a proposal to retain the structure at its current location, and for the proposed mosque to be built on the adjacent vacant plot.

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Zaid Malek, who mooted the idea during a March 20 press conference, repeated his call in response to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's reported remarks yesterday that "the mosque will be built, and the temple will be given a place."

"The solution is to let the temple remain in place and build the mosque on the vacant land next to it. All right-thinking Malaysians will support this.

"If Anwar claims to be PM for all Malaysians, this is the solution he must support," Zaid (above) said in a statement today.

The lawyer also claimed Anwar's statement was tantamount to an ultimatum to the temple before ongoing discussions are completed.

Anwar yesterday urged all parties to stop playing up religious sentiments and allow negotiations to continue, and that he will still be launching the mosque next week.

He also said the temple is occupying the land illegally, but the landowner Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd has offered to help maintain harmonious relations, while the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) looks for an alternative site for the temple.

‘Why the rush?’

Zaid, however, questioned Anwar's rush to launch the mosque amid ongoing negotiations between involved parties.

He also rebutted Anwar's statement on the temple's "illegal" status - with a reminder that the structure was moved to the site in 2008 under DBKL's instruction.

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"To brand a place of worship that has served the local community for over a century as 'not legal' is deeply disrespectful to devotees of the temple and the Hindu community at large, and displays a surprising lack of regard on the part of a sitting prime minister," said Zaid.

He added that the land - Lot 328 Seksyen 40, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Off Jalan Masjid India - did not belong to a private company before DBKL sold it in 2014.

"Anwar, DBKL and government leaders must stop painting a false picture that the temple was built without permission on private land," he stressed.

Hitting out at Anwar's remarks that he cannot imagine demolishing a temple, Zaid pointed out that a relocation would still require a demolition.

Other than LFL, PSM deputy president S Arutchelvan yesterday also mooted a similar idea for the two houses of worship to exist side-by-side.

DBKL and Jakel have assured that there will be no demolition until the temple is relocated.

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