LFL urges PM to revoke 'illegal temple' order, warns of racial fallout

Reminding Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that he serves all Malaysians, not just Muslims, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has urged him to retract his directive for local councils to “clean up (membersihkan)” houses of worship built in violation of the law.

LFL executive director Zaid Malek said the retraction is necessary to prevent the further spread of racial and religious hatred, whether by explicit or tacit government endorsement.

“A more holistic and respectful approach must be employed when discussing the matters affecting the houses of worship of any religious community in Malaysia,” he added in a statement.

Zaid (above) had described Anwar’s directive as “dangerous” and “irresponsible,” warning it could open the door to the indiscriminate demolition of Hindu temples.

“This is a disturbing, stunning statement from the prime minister. Has he considered its consequences?

“What exactly did he mean when he called for the local council to ‘clean up areas not belonging to the temples’? The only conclusion is that he means their eventual demolition, as he offers no alternative solution to resolve the issue.

“It is a dangerous and provocative directive from the PM, which is essentially an instruction for local councils to proactively move towards the demolition of all ‘illegal’ temples. It’s a carte blanche for demolition, and it’s unprecedented in our history,” he added.

Harmony at stake

Zaid further cautioned that the prime minister’s call could have irreversible consequences for racial and religious relations.

The LFL director also criticised Anwar for dismissing concerns over the term “kuil haram” (illegal temple) as mere semantics, noting that its use by irresponsible parties has contributed significantly to the breakdown of social harmony.

“The sentiment behind the term is one that is racially charged, directed specifically to insult and demean the Hindu community in Malaysia. Anwar, who prides himself on his eloquence in the Malay language, cannot possibly be ignorant of the obvious racist undertones behind the term.

“It is the rallying cry of xenophobes who are right now targeting Hindu temples and worshippers throughout the country. They will now only be emboldened to take more direct action as they have received tacit endorsement by the PM himself for their cause,” he added.

Not just about the law

Zaid emphasised that focusing solely on legality misses the larger picture, as houses of worship do not appear without purpose.

“It has historical, religious, and sentimental value to the community that it serves. To reduce it simply to a matter of land ownership ignores the subtleties and intricacies of a multicultural and multireligious country like Malaysia.

“This is why the express approval by a sitting PM for the demolition of all ‘illegal’ temples will undoubtedly destroy the already tenuous racial and religious harmony of the country,” he added.

This morning, Anwar took a firm stance on the ongoing dispute over illegal houses of worship, stressing that all actions must adhere to the law.

He strongly criticised both sides - those taking matters into their own hands and those justifying the construction of houses of worship in violation of legal requirements.

While noting that the Federal Constitution recognises the right to practise religion, Anwar emphasised that this does not give the government the authority to permit the construction of houses of worship outside the bounds of the law.

“We cannot allow the mushrooming (of houses of worship) being built just anywhere, under trees... everywhere. This practice must stop. I have asked, in India, and for the Chinese, in China, such practice is not allowed,” he said.

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