[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian NGO coalition demands that Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor apologize to the Hindu community for the demolition of a temple in Kedah.
Malaysian Hindu Unity Association President V Kandasamy said they also wanted a guarantee that the demolished Raja Muniswarar Temple in Taman Bersatu, Kuala Kedah, will be moved to a new site agreed to by the temple administration and local leaders. .
“Menteri kissing must apologize for the unethical comments he made against the Indians and Chinese after the temple demolition issue,” he told a Brickfields news conference here.
Kandasamy said they were also calling on Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Kedah Sultan to take appropriate action against Sanusi, who is from PAS, to ensure that he or other leaders do not repeat such actions against Hindus or any other Malaysians.
He said that this was in keeping with the first principle of Rukun Negara that says “Belief in God”.
After the demolition of the shrine in Kuala Kedah, Sanusi had accused MIC and DAP of behaving as if they were “drunk on toddy”.
Kandasamy said that the demolition of the temple had angered and “hurt the feelings” of the Hindu community, not only in Kedah but throughout the country.
“Regarding the mentoring kissing, he should have consulted the temple authorities and local leaders to avoid religiously sensitive demolitions by the local authorities,” he said.
He said the action showed that Sanusi “was less respectful of the feelings of Hindus.” He said that most temples were built before independence and therefore must be handled delicately.
He proposed that Putrajaya establish a department for non-Muslim religious affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department to address these problems.
Previously, the rights group Lawyers for Liberty had criticized Sanusi for his “heavy hand” and “unacceptable” defense of the demolition.
Three weeks ago, the Alor Setar City Council demolished the temple, which is said to be over 50 years old.
Sanusi then said that places of worship must be built with the permission of the local government, adding that MIC should be banned if it incites people to break the law.
