Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email It is very distressing to read Malaysian Hindu Sangam’s statement that temples in KL are not shown in KL 2020 Master Plan. Not only that, two existing crematoriums are also not included. Perhaps there are “plans” to relocate them but not such information have been provided by anyone yet.
If one remembers well, even a school was removed from the plan. SJKT Ladang Bukit Jalil won’t be around in 2020. Not sure where it will be as my guess is as good as yours.
Do anyone still remember that MIC was supposed to study the plan. Can they do it by 2020? Or are they the one who informed MHS about this anomaly since being part of the coalition, they can’t rock the boat?
Below is the statement from MHS president (the MCCBCHST should also issue a statement):
More than 120 temple representatives present at a meeting organized by Malaysia Hindu Sangam at the Dewan Tan Sri K R Soma, KL yesterday were shocked that their temples and 2 existing Hindu Crematoriams were not identified at the master Plan
of City of Kuala Lumpur by 2020.
What is of great concern to the community leaders is whether there is a plan to erase off hundreds of Hindu Temples and 2 crematoriams at Jalan Loke Yew and Sentul by the year 2020.
There was a feeling of disappointment and disgust when they were briefed on the Master Plan. They were informed that they have to send their note of protest using the appropriate DBKL Form by 30th August 2008. About 100 forms were distributed at the meeting.
Briefings were made by MHS President Datuk A.Vaithilingam, IT Consultant Mr. Chin Meng Sun, MHS Temples Advisor Ir Ariathavaratnam, MHS Temples Affairs Committee Chairman Mr. G.gunaraj and Bukit Jalil Social worker Mr. Thiagarajan. All those who are not able to obtain the DBKL Master Plan Books are requested to go online and visit www.klcityplan2020.dbkl.gov.my and try and identify the location of their temple. It does not matter whether the temple is registered with ROS or with our MHS or is said to be illegal and of the temple is not identified in the plan please get the forms from DBKL or ring 012-392 5995 (Mr. Gunaraj), 012-328 7823 (Mr.Chin), 016-3674304 (Mr. Thiagaraj) or 016-277 1495 (Ir. Ariathavaratnam) for advice or on how to obtain the forms.
All temples are advised to immediately submit their protests to DBKL and send a copy of the protest form to Malaysian Hindu Sangam at No. 67, Jalan PJS 1/48, Taman Petaling Utama 7, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Fax 03-77847304.
All protests must reach DBKL by 30th August 2008.
Dated 20th August 2008
Datuk A Vaithilingam
President
Malaysia Hindu Sangam
this kind of news will make ppl like Killer happy ….. in the name of racial integration and standardization . Why need different cemetry when non-malay can share malay cemetries ??? Let the souls(ghosts) be united under bangsa malaysia concept….
A Hindu crematorium is not a cemetary. A crematorium is a place for burning deceased people in accordance with Hindu religious rites. As Hindus do not bury their dead but instead cremate them; i.e. burn the body in a crematorium which is either open or closed, there is generally no cemetary for Hindus. The reason that Hindus cremate their dead; i.e. burn the deceased body, is because of the belief that the soul of the deceased person can only be released to a sacred place if the body is burnt and the ashes is released appropriately (i.e. in running water like river or sea).
The reason why cemetaries are separate for Christians, Muslims and other religions whihc bury their dead is due to religious rites and reasons. Some religions believe that the soul will only reach the sacred place (some call it Heaven) if the body is buried after full religious rites are done (i.e. prayers etc.) Since religious rites of different religions are different from each other, it is well advised that cemetaries for different people of different faiths are kept separate from each other so as not offend the religious sentiments and requirements of each practitioner.
but some Hindus do bury their dead. We can find plenty of cemeteries for Hindus.
Thank you for your information. Noted the contents. I should have added the words ‘generally speaking’ or ‘in general’ or ‘only generally’ etc in the response above. My apologies.
Perhaps some Hindus follow different Hindu scriptures that call for burial of the dead or perhaps they bury their dead for personal reasons (i.e. in order to have a tangible place to go to in order to remember the deceased and perform Pitru prayers).
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) would be well advised to hold a press conference to inform the media and all interested parties (especially Hindus) about the proposed destruction of more Hindu temples and eradication of the Hindu heritage and humiliation of the Hindu persons and Indians in general.
The Malaysia Hindu Sangam has not published on its website the list of temples (from which the 120 temple representatives came) which were not identified in the KL City Plan 2020. The Malaysia Hindu Sangam may be afraid to publish the names of the temples from which the 120 representatives came. This could be potilical reason. If they are not afraid, then they could publish the names of the respective temples (from which 120 representatives came). However, if you call Malaysia Hindu Sangam – the telephone numbers of the people listed – you might get some interesting excuses about why they cannot publish these names. Then you will see for yourself.
The thing is that two roads were mentioned – Sentul and Loke Yew, but 120 reps came. I think 120 temples along two roads is ridiculous, so this problem probably affects more than this two roads. Plus, the issue of legalilty, land ownership etc will come into play. DBKL will say that it does not recognize these structures because according to its land records – the land is categorised differently.
According to Malaysia Hindu Sangam (which I called to clarify the article), the 120 representatives came from temples all over KL (i.e. not 1 representative from 120 temples but 120 representatives from several un-named temples). The crematoriums are located in Loke Yew and Sentul; i.e. 1 in Jalan Loke Yew and 1 in Sentul Raya.
MHS gave evasive excuses when enquiries were made whether MHS will kindly publish at least the names of the temples (from which the 120 temples representatives came) in their website so that interested Hindus may assist and may know further. The enquirer was not asking for the list of ALL temples not listed on the KL City Plan 2020 but ONLY the list of temples (maybe 20 temples, or 40 temples or 60 temples) for which 120 representatives attended the briefing (i.e. from which temples did they come). MHS advised to look into the KL City Plan 2020 (available from DBKL at RM150 for English version) and find out by oneself the information that one want to know about which temples were not listed.
correction – the two roads mentioned are the ones have crematoriums. 120 reps is from all over KL. Malaysiakini has more details.
“Plus, the issue of legalilty, land ownership etc will come into play. DBKL will say that it does not recognize these structures because according to its land records – the land ais categorised differently.”
And it is for the above reasons that the historic Hindraf rally took place in November 2007. (i.e. what I mean is, it is for the above reasons that temples were originally demolished, according to the enforcement personnel of City Hall [Dewan Banadaraya]) However, when even after 100 petitions by Hindraf no poper action was taken by City Hall to halt the demolishing, then finally action had to be taken by the affected parties themselves.
And what one may need to consider is, how does City Hall avoid a similar thing from happening in the future, bearing in mind that the KL City Plan was drawn up over several years during the tenure of the previous government (i.e. the government officials that were in power before the recent general elections).
That is the point that I was trying to stress.
In each Hindu temple which is properly consecrated, there are several deities. Before the consecration ceremony (Kumba-bishegam), devotees will place gold jewellery, gold coins, precious stones or coppper coins into the area (which can be as deep as 3 feet) at the base of the deity. When the period of placing the jewellery (usually gold) is over, the deity will be placed above the opening and then sealed into place. The reason gold is place directly below the deity is because gold absorbs the sacred energy from the deity as prayers are done and the energy then radiates out to the devotees who gather in front of the deity during prayer. Only specific metals are allowed to be placed at the base of the deity – especially gold. Iron is not allowed.
Therefore there is a lot of gold, money (copper coins) and precious stones at the base of Hindu deities in temples.
When temples are demolished and the deities destroyed, who takes all the jewellery and gold at the base? Who takes all the jewellery of the deity – gold chains and gold ornaments ? Is it the enforcement officers who are wielding the hammers and axes?
Any gold / jewellery stolen from the temple deities will only bring misery to those who have taken them unlawfully – because these gold / jewellery was placed by devotees who have prayed for the blessings of the deities before placing the precious gold into the pit at the base of the deity.
guys , the ball is in umno’s court. Believe me they never learned the lesson (even after Nov rally) and never will .
The problem that we’re afraid of is how far MHS could stretch govt ? Are they tough enough to do so ? Those tough ppl are left in Kamunting for such reasons (that is no one could speak up against govt) .
If such neglegence can happen in capital city then imagine what will in other cities and states ?
Like you , i too looking forward what the Federal T Minister going to say .
Or like our beloved Killer he gonna say dont fight just give up and obey our masters !
I think you MHS and you guys are jumping the gun by making a fantastic logical leap.
The explanation could be simple…that this is an omission rather than a plan to “destroy” Hindu temples. No city council will be stupid enough to destroy hundreds of temples, especially even the legal ones.
Before this a lot of people found other omissions too so this isn’t an isolated case.
Another reason could be that many of these temples are unregistered and built illegally. So you can hardly expect these temples to turn on on the plan.
The right way is to point out these omissions rather than create a Bollywood drama about it. Found out the reasons behind it rather than make unfounded accusations that could incite racial and religious feelings.
MHS should work to integrate these illegal temples and educate Hindus rather than condone the illegal actions that bring ill repute to the religion.
1. MHS and MIC have been talking about temple registeration for years and years . In other words they are not doing what they should be doing .
2. Say during ‘banci’ everyone got the names screened except a group of ethnic A . How would group A feel ? If govt is sincere and caring it wont drop certain group just like that and later say ‘oh sorry it was a tech error’ . To me that’s stupid and bullshit .
3. ‘Draft’ means not final , understood . But it shows that DBKL had not consulted Hindu rep during the plan discussion in the first place. If was done that way then such hu-hah would not happen in the first place right ?
4. For goodness sake let’s think like pro of 21stcentury rather than kambing-kambing in BC which only know how to shake head whatever the ‘master’ says …..
MIC is not going to do anything. It is up to the Hindus..not MHS or Hindraf. The latter appears to haver been infiltrated by people working for UMNO/BN who even held a so-called “Hindu” religious ceremony in a Chinese Temple a few days ago!
Many Hindus believe that MHS is owned by BN and will never do anything that UMNO does not want. If MHS is involved in in this discussion, then I think it is all pre-planned and designed to make MHS “heroes” of the Tamil people. That’s my opinion.
But Hindus should not give up. The millions of Hindus in Malaysia have enough money to buy the land on which the temples are erected. Move now..each community should independently ask to buy the land if it is not owned by the temple. Donot allow MIC, MHS or Hindraf to do so. Firstly to prevent theft of money and secondly not to politicise the issue.