Coexistence is the best solution

AN amiable formula for the heated dispute over a 131-year-old Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur can perhaps be found in a Melaka street where three ancient places of worship stand in amity.

A stretch of Jalan Tukang Emas/Jalan Tokong is where two of the oldest functioning Chinese and Hindu temples and mosque in the country are located almost next to each other. The area’s apt moniker is “Street of Harmony”.

The oldest structure, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, can be traced back to 1600 or earlier in the 15th century. Additional buildings were erected in 1673 while the main hall was built in 1704. The Masjid Kampung Kling was built in 1748 while the Sri Poyyatha Vinayaga Moorthy Temple was built in 1781.

All three places of worship attract thousands of devotees as well as tourists to the historic city, jointly listed as a Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) World Heritage site with George Town.

Today, the Dewi Sri Pathra Kaliamman Temple, located at Jalan Bunus Enam, off Jalan Masjid India, in Kuala Lumpur is in the midst of a furore after reports emerged that it might be relocated from where it has stood for 131 years.

Apparently, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) sold the land where the temple is located to Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd in 2014. The temple committee only found out about the sale two years later.

We have since learned that DBKL approved Jakel’s application to build a mosque on the site in 2021. The company had offered to work with DBKL to find an alternative site and also offered financial aid to build the new temple.

The temple committee, however, has insisted on not moving from its existing place since discussions commenced more than a decade ago.

The temple also turned down several proposed alternate sites, including one near the National Heart Institute, citing concerns over distance, land size, and flood risks.

DBKL has since given its assurance it will not demolish the temple until the relocation process is done and also pledged to uphold the principle of religious freedom as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

But Jakel is expected to go ahead with the ground-breaking ceremony for its proposed “Masjid Madani” by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tomorrow.

Over the past week the acrimony over the issue was worsened by the spewing of inaccuracies and misinformation by various parties, including politicians and lawyers.

There was also much hate on social media. One woman suggested that the temple be “bombed” to solve the problem.

Among the wrong information bandied about was that the temple was only relocated to its current location in 2008.

This was strongly denied by MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, who was deputy Federal Territories minister from 2008 to 2013, and former Malaysia Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam.

Saravanan, who is MP for Tapah, said the shift only involved the temple’s workers’ quarters and that too by only a few metres to make way for road expansion in 2008, as requested by DBKL.

He said there is clear evidence that the structure had always been recognised by DBKL.

"DBKL could have demolished it in 2008 if it had been illegal. Instead, it allowed the temple to install new pipes for water supply. If the temple is illegal, why would DBKL have done this?” he asked.

Saravanan also dismissed claims that the temple was on land reserved for a mosque, adding that its land status was under "mixed development”.

Vaithilingam, who was a member of a committee appointed by the then mayor, said the temple was already there when he started his schooling in 1947.

On Friday, Anwar expressed hope that the stakeholders will continue with their efforts to find a cordial solution to the issue.

Reminding all parties not to act as self-proclaimed champions, he said opportunists were positioning themselves as such and making statements as if the temple was about to be demolished.

"I cannot imagine myself as Prime Minister ordering the demolition of any temple or religious place,” he said.

The PM agreed that it was an old temple but its status was not officially approved.

"I hope there will be no inappropriate responses, including from the Muslim community. We will handle this matter properly,” he added.

Among the viral social media posts on the issue is an open letter to Anwar from PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.

The legislator urged the PM and his party president to seek a "fair and prudent solution” based on the "principle of the Madani government which is the source of its Islamic philosophy which perpetuates justice and benevolence”.

Hassan wrote that the temple was built long before the country achieved independence.

"The temple was built with the permission of the authorities then as a place of worship for Indian workers who were brought into the country, including to Kuala Lumpur, to build roads, railway tracks and other infrastructure, many of which remain to this day.”

He urged the PM as a respected Muslim leader to show the virtue and manners espoused by the teachings of Islam, by respecting the rights of the Hindus.

He suggested that the new mosque be built on a site adjacent to or near the temple, adding that if such a solution could be achieved then a lot of goodness can be gained.

"No hearts and feelings of any race and religion will be hurt. Apart from that, racial and religious divisions can be avoided.”

He said it was important for Anwar as the PM of all citizens of various races and religions to provide the example of being a just and benevolent leader who promotes unity.

According to a report by a news portal on Sunday, Jakel might be open to a resolution allowing the temple and mosque to stand on the same land.

As the two old temples and the mosque in Melaka have shown us, co-existence is the way towards mutual respect and harmony.

Media consultant M. Veera Pandiyan likes this line from Khalil Gibran: 'Many are the places of worship, but few indeed are those who worship in spirit and in truth.' The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.