MCA: PAS rep's proposal is 'religious discrimination'
Published: Jun 24, 2014 8:36 AM | Updated: Jun 24, 2014 9:56 AM
MCA has slammed PAS’ Bangi assemblyperson Mohd Shafei Ngah for reportedly suggesting the relocation of a Hindu temple at Persiaran Bangi, Kajang, due to “sensitivity to the Muslim community around the area”.
MCA has slammed PAS’ Bangi assemblyperson Mohd Shafei Ngah for reportedly suggesting the relocation of a Hindu temple at Persiaran Bangi, Kajang, due to “sensitivity to the Muslim community around the area”.
The party’s Selangor secretary Ng Chok Sim said the proposal “smacks of religious discrimination” and a violation of the rights of non-Muslims.
“The said Hindu temple has been standing there for 125 years and nobody has ever objected to it. Why is PAS suddenly finding the temple’s structure to be offensive?” he said in a statement today.
The Star’s Metro edition reported today that the Sri Maha Karu Mariamman temple committee was shocked and appalled when it received a letter from the assemblyperson to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (right), suggesting the relocation.
The letter reportedly cited several reasons for the move, such as “the location, size of the land as well as sensitivity to the Muslim community around the area”, but the report did not elaborate on these.
The Star reported that the Selangor state government had already gazetted the land to the temple in 2010. It wants a new building on the site with foundation work to begin next week but is short on funds.
Temple committee president S Cheethran said that the committee wanted to apply for a state allocation for non-Muslim places of worship and needed endorsement from Shafei and Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming (right).
“The MP signed the form and allocated some funds to the project but Shafei’s officer gave us this letter…
“We have already spent more than RM35,000 to do soil tests and other necessary works. We do not want to move and we do not think we should because this is our land,” Cheethran was quoted as saying, adding that the reasons for the request was unreasonable.
Suggestion shot down
Meanwhile, the report also said that Selangor Non-Islamic Affairs committee chairperson Teng Chang Kim had already shot down the relocation suggestion, saying that it was merely a suggestion.
“The request has to come from the temple committee because the land is gazetted. The state will not entertain the requests of others,” he added.
He said Shafie too had endorsed the temple’s request for the allocation.
Malaysiakini has contacted Shafie on the issue and is awaiting a response.
The party’s Selangor secretary Ng Chok Sim said the proposal “smacks of religious discrimination” and a violation of the rights of non-Muslims.
“The said Hindu temple has been standing there for 125 years and nobody has ever objected to it. Why is PAS suddenly finding the temple’s structure to be offensive?” he said in a statement today.
The Star’s Metro edition reported today that the Sri Maha Karu Mariamman temple committee was shocked and appalled when it received a letter from the assemblyperson to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (right), suggesting the relocation.The letter reportedly cited several reasons for the move, such as “the location, size of the land as well as sensitivity to the Muslim community around the area”, but the report did not elaborate on these.
The Star reported that the Selangor state government had already gazetted the land to the temple in 2010. It wants a new building on the site with foundation work to begin next week but is short on funds.
Temple committee president S Cheethran said that the committee wanted to apply for a state allocation for non-Muslim places of worship and needed endorsement from Shafei and Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming (right).“The MP signed the form and allocated some funds to the project but Shafei’s officer gave us this letter…
“We have already spent more than RM35,000 to do soil tests and other necessary works. We do not want to move and we do not think we should because this is our land,” Cheethran was quoted as saying, adding that the reasons for the request was unreasonable.
Suggestion shot down
Meanwhile, the report also said that Selangor Non-Islamic Affairs committee chairperson Teng Chang Kim had already shot down the relocation suggestion, saying that it was merely a suggestion.
“The request has to come from the temple committee because the land is gazetted. The state will not entertain the requests of others,” he added.
He said Shafie too had endorsed the temple’s request for the allocation.
Malaysiakini has contacted Shafie on the issue and is awaiting a response.
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