Special panel formed to deal with temple issues
Susan LoonePublished: Jan 8, 2014 7:50 AM | Updated: Jan 8, 2014 8:24 AM
In view of possible tensions arising out of cultural or religious issues, Penang will be forming a committee to address matters related to Chinese temples.
In view of possible tensions arising out of cultural or religious issues, Penang will be forming a committee to address matters related to Chinese temples.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this structure or committee is similar to the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) which has been formed to deal with the Hindu temples.
The PHEB is currently chaired by Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, and those on the board membership include state assemblypersons - RSN Rayer (Seri Delima), A Thanasekharan (Bagan Dalam) and T Jayabalan (Batu Uban).
"We are doing this so that the legality question of temples will not be played up and become sensitive, religious issues by Umno as in the case of the purported Mazhu Island," Lim (right) said in a press conference today.
The decision to form the committee also came after the state government found itself in a quandary when enforcing action on the Mahzu temple on Pulau Jerejak as it tried not to offend the religious sensitivities of those involved.
The statue of the Mahzu Goddess, often worshipped by seafarers, was demolished at the end of last year as it did not obtain the approval of the Penang Municipal Council.
Lim said he will head the committee at the moment, and that details would be announced after the state government discusses with temple organisations and sets up the necessary structures.
"We would at least be able to reduce misunderstandings and wrong perceptions on Chinese temples," he added.
The issue of Mahzu Island was first raised by state opposition leader Jahara Hamid at the recent state legislative assembly in November last year, where she questioned why the well-known island Pulau Jerejak had been renamed as ‘Mahzu Island’.
Pulau Jerejak - located on an island off Pantai Jerejak in Bayan Baru - has a resort, although it used to be a camp for leprosy patients about 80 years ago, which has long been shut down.
Jahara based her queries on a Facebook page about the temple, but this irked Lim to no end that he labelled her a "racist grandmother".
Lim has since retracted the word ‘grandmother’ but maintained that Jahara is racist, while the latter has threatened to sue the chief minister if he does not retract the offensive word.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said this structure or committee is similar to the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) which has been formed to deal with the Hindu temples.
The PHEB is currently chaired by Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, and those on the board membership include state assemblypersons - RSN Rayer (Seri Delima), A Thanasekharan (Bagan Dalam) and T Jayabalan (Batu Uban).
"We are doing this so that the legality question of temples will not be played up and become sensitive, religious issues by Umno as in the case of the purported Mazhu Island," Lim (right) said in a press conference today.The decision to form the committee also came after the state government found itself in a quandary when enforcing action on the Mahzu temple on Pulau Jerejak as it tried not to offend the religious sensitivities of those involved.
The statue of the Mahzu Goddess, often worshipped by seafarers, was demolished at the end of last year as it did not obtain the approval of the Penang Municipal Council.
Lim said he will head the committee at the moment, and that details would be announced after the state government discusses with temple organisations and sets up the necessary structures.
"We would at least be able to reduce misunderstandings and wrong perceptions on Chinese temples," he added.The issue of Mahzu Island was first raised by state opposition leader Jahara Hamid at the recent state legislative assembly in November last year, where she questioned why the well-known island Pulau Jerejak had been renamed as ‘Mahzu Island’.
Pulau Jerejak - located on an island off Pantai Jerejak in Bayan Baru - has a resort, although it used to be a camp for leprosy patients about 80 years ago, which has long been shut down.
Jahara based her queries on a Facebook page about the temple, but this irked Lim to no end that he labelled her a "racist grandmother".
Lim has since retracted the word ‘grandmother’ but maintained that Jahara is racist, while the latter has threatened to sue the chief minister if he does not retract the offensive word.
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