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Hindu Sangam says…

September 4th, 2009
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The press statement on MHS website:

PRESS STATEMENT : 150 YEAR OLD SECTION 19 TEMPLE, SHAH ALAM

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam is deeply concerned that many statements have been made in the media of the proposed meeting with the protestors from the people of Section 23 and the Hindu Sangam without it being notified. It was only this morning that we were notified by a Special Officer of the Minister. No specific time and venue was mentioned.

We appreciate the efforts of the Minister of Internal Security Dato Seri Hishamuddin Bin Tun Hussein  to solve the issue which has been on for about 25 years – each time the temple has been the victim of unfair  treatment and continued humiliation.

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam welcomes the call by His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor urging the Menteri  Besar of Selangor to solve the matter quickly. We are confident that the Sultan of Selangor will see that justice is done to all his subjects. As  this is a State matter the Selangor Menteri Besar should meet the Hindu Sangam and Temple leaders immediately.

Therefore, we including the Section 19 temple leaders are willing to cooperate with both the Federal and State Governments to solve the issue by negotiation. In the meantime we are hoping that the Prime Minister, will meet us soon to resolve the long pending issues. We realize that this 25 year old issue cannot be resolved in one day. We know that patience, understanding and feeling of harmony are the only path towards success.

RS.Mohan Shan
President

The following appeared in Malaysiakini:

The Hindu Sangam is willing to meet residents of Shah Alam’s Section 23 but not the protestors to thrash out matters surrounding the relocation of a 150-year-old temple to their neighbourhood. A. Vaithilingam, advisor to the religion’s national umbrella body said this after an hour-long meeting at the secretariat today with state exco Dr Xavier Jeyakumar and the menteri besar’s political secretary Nik Nazi Nik Ahmad over the ‘cow head’ protest as well as the temple relocation.

“We don’t mind meeting any (one), but not to go and meet the protesters, especially the ones who have insulted the religion (by) carrying the cow’s head.

“And seeing the picture of them sitting next to the (Home) minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) was indeed shocking,” said Vaithilingam (right), adding that he is, however, “happy that the minister said the police will be taking action”.

Though the minister has said that the police will take action against them, he cannot see himself shaking hands with the protestors. “They have not even apologised and said anything different.”

Directly or indirectly they touched on a racial and religious issue. “The cow is a sacred animal for us and they have insulted us,” said Vithilingam, a former president of the organisation.

He demanded an apology from the protestors but was quick to add “that does not mean action should not be taken against them.”

Meanwhile, the president S Mohan urged the Hindus to remain calm.“But as a minority, we still need to be respected and should be given a place of worship,” he said.

Sangam never consulted

According to Vaithilingam, the Section 23 residents have never discussed or raised objection to the temple relocation with the Sangam yet some of them went to the state secretariat to protest.

“Although it is a democratic right to protest, we do not want them to insult other religions,” he said.

He also reiterated that some of the residents did not meet them but met another body with a similar sounding name.

The organisation, said Vaithilingam, is called ‘Hindu Sevai Sangam’ and is a social services body, not a national organistion.

“It is also a religious-based body and registered about five years ago…and they are affiliated members of the Hindu Sangam”, he said, adding that he has no problem with them meeting the residents in the first place.

He also said that they are happy with today’s meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders today, describing it as “a beginning of something”.

But the final decision (on the temple relocation) has to be in hands of the state government and the temple. “We’ll just try to smoothen things out,” said Vaithilingam.

Need to clarify that Vaithilingam is former president of the MHS, and seems to be the advisor to the Sangam at the moment.

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Changing tunes on cow head protest

September 4th, 2009
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While yesterday’s reports sounded bewildering, today’s statement by the Home Minister seem to be more befitting:

Those responsible for bringing the head of a cow during the Aug 28 protest at the Selangor state secretariat building should be charged in court, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He ordered the police to proceed with further investigation and take stern action against those responsible.

“The police have identified the individuals involved,” he said in a statement Thursday.

… Although the residents were angry with the state government and had no intention of hurting the feeling of any other race, Hishammuddin said such action could not be tolerated.

“The Home Ministry view seriously all issues that could undermine the harmony, unity, national security and stability of this multiracial country,’’ he said.

Not sure why there’s a change of tone. Probably the earlier message was not clear enough or sounded biased.

Worse still, there are contradictions to his earlier statements as well (regarding his claim that there are Hindu residents who are opposing the relocation):

Meanwhile, Section 23 Hindu committee pro-tem president K Rajah has also rejected Hishammuddin’s statement yesterday that some Hindu residents were against the proposed temple plan.

“We have collected over a hundred signatures in a petition to support the temple being relocated here and not one is against the idea,” he said.

He also claimed that neither his committee nor any Indian resident was consulted by the Section 23 action committee led by Mahyuddin.

– From Malaysiakini.

Meanwhile Hindu residents of Section 23 today also denied press reports that they also did not want the temple to be relocated to the area.

K. Raju said one third of all residents in Section 23 were Non-Malays and they have carried out a signature campaign to support the state government’s move to relocate the temple.

He also disputed claims in the press that the cow’s head used during the protest was brought to the scene by outsiders.

“The people who carried the head are Umno members, from Section 23, and they seem to be above the law.”

– From Malaysian Insider

I’m not sure if  the other papers will carry the rebuttal by the Hindu resident (I think K.Raju and K.Rajah are the same person). Let’s see who is telling the truth.

The above article also gave an interesting piece of news (not sure how to verify it):

While the state government is hosting a dialogue session with all residents this Saturday, the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government is also considering holding an event to bring both Muslims and Hindus together to defuse racial tension.

The plan, which entailed roping in the assistance of Hindu Sangam, was proposed to the Cabinet by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who is also the Umno state deputy liaison chief.

According to sources, the Cabinet is also considering offering an alternative site to relocate the Hindu temple despite the fact that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the state government.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Noh was forced to defend himself at the Cabinet meeting yesterday. He told the meeting that he did not instigate the Malay-Muslims of Section 23 to protest against the temple relocation.

He is understood to have also told the Cabinet that he would organise a sit-down with Hindus and Muslims in the neighbourhood.

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Hindu Sangam, Sevai Sangam or movie Sangam?

September 4th, 2009
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Its a sad reflection of the society we live in when a section of the community don’t even know about the religious bodies of another community. Due to the focus on one particular race/religion, many of us grow up without exposure to other religion facts like festivals, ideals, worship, organisations etc.

Malaysian Hindu Sangam must have been shocked when the Home Minister said that residents from Section 23 had met with representatives from MHS and will be meeting them again. The MHS president was quoted:

S Mohan revealed today that “not even the residents or the home minister Hishammuddin Hussein have come and met them like they claimed yesterday”.

“And I have checked with all of my staff, whether any of them was contacted by the residents or the minister, but no one has. I don’t know why they have used our name,” he added.

However, he said, he is “very keen” to meet the residents and would welcome a discussion with them on the matter that has sparked major uproar especially among the Hindu community nationwide.

“I am willing to meet anybody to resolve the matter amicably… I don’t want any problem with anyone but other people must consider our sentiment. We still need a temple for worship,” Mohan said.

More of Mohan’s comment as appeared in Malaysian Insider:

However Hindu Sangam president RS Mohan Shahmugam today told The Malaysian Insider they have had no official invitation yet to meet the federal government about the issue.

Hindu Sangam also believes the proposed site in Section 23 is the best area to relocate the temple.

Mohan said the temple was not meant to cater only to the Hindus from Section 23 but also from Sections 19, 20, 21 and 22.

Together there are at least 3,000 Hindus in these areas, Mohan said, adding the issue of relocating the temple from its current site in Section 19, had been pending for the last two decades.

The current temple was once part of Sungai Garing Estate, but over the years the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) had developed the areas surrounding the site into a housing estate.

The temple now lies in the middle of a Muslim-majority area and there had been no concrete effort to relocate until recently.

“This is not a new problem and I don’t understand why the small group of residents needed to protest in such a manner,” Mohan said.

Mohan said that carrying the head of a cow which is scared to Hindus was insulting and called on the government to take action against the culprits.

He also denied claims made yesterday by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein that residents of Section 23 had met Hindu Sangam to resolve the relocation issue.

“I have checked and there was no such meeting.”

However Mohan said he would welcome a meeting with the minister.

Actually, it was Hindu Sevai Sangam (HSS) whom met the residents!

However the confusion over which Hindu-based group had met with the residents was clarified when VK Regu of the Malaysia Sevai Sangam told Malaysiakini that it was his group which had the meeting.

He said his movement had met the protesting residents on the day after the protest to hold a dialogue.

“We had a fruitful meeting and we explained to them how our feelings were hurt by their actions. We also told them why cows are considered sacred to us,” he said, adding that his movement plans to hold more meetings with the residents in the near future.He said that the meeting was done on their own initiate and that they had no connections with the Malaysia Hindu Sangam.”It was us whom Hishammuddin was talking about. I also spoke to the minister and he knows our stand on the matter. He said he will help solve the problem,” added Regu.

The poor residents not even sure who they met in the first place, making this look more and more comical and disastrous.

Bol Radha bol, sangam hoga ke nehi… That’s the famous song from the 1964 hit movie Sangam. Maybe they saw this movie and got confused 🙂

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Falim Karumariaman Muneeswarar Temple land gazetted as worship area

September 3rd, 2009
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At least there’s some good news in the papers today!

The Perak Government has gazetted the land on which the popular Sri Maha Karumariaman Muneeswarar Temple sits in Jalan Lahat, Falim here as a “worship area.”

Announcing this Thursday, state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the Hindu temple had a rich history dating back 80 years.

“People of different races and from different parts of the world come to worship here. It is also a popular tourist destination,” he told reporters after visiting the temple with state Indian affairs adviser Datuk S. Veerasingam.

Temple committee president K. Kanesan said the committee had been applying for the land title to the 0.5ha plot since 1974.

“We’ve been waiting for so long to get a land title and having the land gazetted as a worship area is far better than anything else.

“It is the best gift we could ever have,” Kanesan said while thanking the state government and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

According to its priest Harcharan Singh, the temple attracts about 3,000 devotees with the number swelling to about 10,000 people during festivals.

One less temple to worry over land issues now. After 35 years of misery, they manage to get this “worship area” status – whatever that means and holds.  Hopefully its something permanent and valid in the eyes of the law.

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Yoga Class at DLS

September 2nd, 2009
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Interested to learn Yoga? Not the type in Yoga centers, but one which is more down to earth at a spiritual venue. Its not free though, RM100 for adults. Then have attended it before, and found it to be useful. Only problem is that is in Batu Caves, so may have to brave the traffic on Saturday afternoons.


yoga-dls

Their Pamphlet

The excerpt from email I received below gives more details:

The Divine Life Society (DLS) Batu Caves conducts Hatha Yoga classes based on Swami Sivananda’s teachings. The next intake for beginners and intermediate is on 3rd October 2009. This is a 3 months course, conducted every Saturday from 3:45 pm to 5:00 pm at Yoga Block, Sivananda Ashram, THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY, Batu Caves, Selangor.

DLS is a charitable organization. One of our primary objectives are to disseminate spiritual knowledge to members of the public. Hence, for the 3 months yoga course – the fee is RM100 for adults and RM50 for students. Any poor students or adults who are unable to afford, we will waive their fee. Since our yoga fee is one of the cheapest in Klang Valley, many Chinese people grab this opportunity and attend our yoga classes. In fact, three quarter of our yoga students are non-Hindus. We are really not sure why the Hindus are not keen in learning Yoga. Many Hindus mis-interpret that Yoga is another form of exercise only. Yes it is an exercise, but there are many benefits in Yoga. In Yogic exercises, there is harmonious development of all the muscles of the body, internal organs, nerves and the frame. There are no rapid movements, hence there is no waste of energy. In Yoga, exercise movements are gentle and rhythmic, so energy is conserved. Kindly visit our Yoga Blog @ http://dls-malaysia-yoga.blogspot.com to gain more information on Yoga.

Thus, we would like to request your kind support to assist us to promote Hatha Yoga among your friends (especially Hindus) and relatives in Klang Valley. Attached is the Yoga New Intake poster for your distribution. If you would like to add our yoga blog link in your website, we would be very grateful.

Important Note: Yoga Asanas to be practiced by young people after twelve years of age, and not before. Hence, we do not accept students below twelve years of age.

Thanking you in advance for your support.

In service of Gurudev,

Prema Naidu

DLS Yoga Committee

Note: This is not a paid advertisement! 🙂

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