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interview with tan sri gnanalingam

January 6th, 2008
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Voices’08: On the road to glory and unity
By : K.P. WARAN

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Westports Malaysia executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam has made a name for himself as an entrepreneur but he and is also a member of Pemudah, the special task force to facilitate business in Malaysia. He speaks to K.P. WARAN about everything, from the lack of interest in local sports among Malaysians to what local companies have to do to stay ahead in the age of globalisation » Read more: interview with tan sri gnanalingam

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what happened at the temple committee meeting with selangor MB

January 6th, 2008
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20 million ringgit? Hmmm…always follow the money trail. Welcome to Malaysian Hind Council!
 
6 months…long enough to make promises and later… Well, if MHS can be forgotten within days, I can only wonder what will happen to the proposals and memorandums.
 
Anyway, glad to hear the state govt have approved 146 temples. In how many years ah?
 
I'm also curious that churches nowadays seem to exist in shophouses. Are they the churches he mentioned? No one will realise that the churches in building exists since they are devoid of any external architectural designs or identity. Perhaps Hindu temples should start to relocate into shoplots!
 
As usual the NST writes a differing view as compared to MK. You can also read other related articles at:
 
 
Committee to deal with temple issues set up

RAWANG: Representatives of some 700 Hindu temples in Selangor have agreed to form a committee among themselves to deal directly with the state government on erecting, demolishing and relocating temples.

They also agreed with Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's proposal to have the self-regulatory committee ready within six months. The decision was made at an hour-long dialogue session between Dr Khir and the representatives, facilitated by the newly set up Malaysian Hindu Council.

At a press conference after the meeting, Dr Khir said state exco member Kamala Ganapathy would assist the proposed committee. "The committee must come up with regulations and requirements in terms of qualifications of priests, locations of the temples and the funds needed and so on," he said. The menteri besar said a temple to be built must comply with the regulations set by the committee and, the committee, after agreeing that the temple has met the requirements, will meet the state government's committee for approval.

While waiting six months for the committee to be set up, Dr Khir said the state would avoid taking action against temples built without approval. However, relocation exercises would proceed for the temples that had agreed to be relocated.  Dr Khir said action had also been taken against mosques, surau and Chinese temples that were built without permission. "The only place of worship we have not encountered any problem with is the Christian churches. They always abide by all regulations."

At yesterday's dialogue, Malay- sian Hindu Council chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah also submitted to Dr Khir a proposal for the setting up of a Malaysian Indian Cultural Centre in Batu Caves. This is following an announcement by Dr Khir that there was a RM20 million state allocation for the purpose of building a cultural centre for the Indian community.

 
 
 

S'gor halts temple demolitions for six months

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76712
Syed Jaymal Zahiid | Jan 5, 08 12:49pm

The Selangor state government has announced a six-month moratorium on the demolition of Hindu temples in the state.

The six-month duration is to allow the temples themselves to establish a self-regulatory committee to deal directly with the state government on erecting, demolishing and relocating temples.

This was announced by Mentri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo after an hour long meeting with representatives of some 700 Hindu temples in the state in Rawang yesterday evening.

The meeting was facilitated by the newly set up Malaysian Hindu Council, headed by the Jalan Bandar Maha Mariamman temple and Batu Caves temple president R Nadarajah.

"The committee must come up with regulations and requirements in terms of qualifications of priests, locations of the temples and the funds needed and so on," Khir said.

He also added that a newly build temple must comply with the regulations set by the committee and, the committee, after agreeing that the temple has met the requirements, will meet the state government for approval.

"We don't want temples being built without approval. Suggestions from this committee will be discussed at the executive council level before approval (for building new temples) is given," he added.

He said that MIC's state exco member Kamala Ganapathy would assist the proposed committee.

Matter of legality

He also said that while waiting six months for the committee to be set up, the state would avoid taking action against temples built without approval.

However, relocation exercises would proceed for the temples that had agreed to be relocated, he added.

"We want everybody to work together in this matter. Once this regulatory body is put into frame, it will be easier for us to move on to the next step," Khir said.

The dialogue session set up between Khir and the temple representatives, held at the Perangsang Templer Golf Club in the outskirts of the city, was to discuss the problems of the series of temple demolitions that have occurred in Selangor throughout last year.

The Indian community have accused Khir's government of intolerable ruthlessness when it comes to dealing with the temple issue.

Khir and his government however pointed out that the temple issue was just a matter of "legality", saying that the temples that have been demolished are those that were not built according to law.

"We must not look at this (temple demolition) from a prejudicial and cynical perspective. It is not race or religious bias that made us act on the temples, but a legal one," stressed the chief minister in his speech earlier.

'I have always been fair'

He said that in Selangor, besides Hindu temples, other religious edifices like the Muslim's surau, the Chinese' tokong have all faced state government action because they were built not in accordance to regulations.

"The only religious building that the state government have not taken action against are churches. Why? Because they were built in accordance with the law set by the state and the federal government," he noted.

According to the chief minister, his government has always been fair to all races in the state.

To counter allegations that his administration practices religious bias, Khir said the accusers should look at the facts.

"In Selangor, the state government have approved the construction of 146 Hindu temples. If I practice religious bias, why are there 146 Hindu temples in Selangor?" he said.

In support of his claim, he added that his administration have allocated RM20 million for the construction of a Hindu Cultural Centre, which will be located at Batu Caves.

"I want people to understand the culture of the Indian Malaysians here so that all that the racial unity that our forefathers have strived to build will be safeguarded by future generations," he said.

MIC's council of temples

Following the meeting the temple representatives and the state government in Selangor, another such meeting would be held in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 13 involving all temple representatives from the city.

This was announced by MIC president S Samy Vellu today. He would be chairing the KL meeting. Many cases of temple demolitions are confined to Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

According to Bernama today, Samy Vellu said that without political support, the fate of temples, especially those built illegally would be in limbo.

He also said that MIC would be forming a council of Hindu temples in every state to protect the temples and resolve their problems through the state governments.

"The MIC considers the demolition of temples as a very serious political matter and it requires consultations from various parties," he said in a statement.

As such, the council would be tasked with several functions, among others, to safeguard temples and to protect the integrity of the Hindu religion; to register temples which comply with the requirements; and to obtain permanent and suitable alternative sites for temples.

Samy Vellu said that if a temple was found to have been built on private or government land, the council would seek an alternative and suitable site for it.

"The council will also ascertain that the plans for all the temples have been submitted to the local authorities to prevent future problems. The council will get the approval for the plans once they have been submitted," he said.

However, it would not interfere in the running of the temple or its administration, he added.
 
 
 
 

Temple reps: Meeting a political ploy

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76718
Khairil Zhafri | Jan 5, 08 3:27pm

Representative from about 700 Hindu temples in Selangor met in a close-door dialogue with Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo yesterday to discuss problems faced by the temples.

The meeting was facilitated by the Malaysian Hindu Council (MHC), a newly-formed umbrella body that claims to represent Hindu temples and Hindu-based organisations in Malaysia.

The purpose of the meeting was to allow the temple representative to discuss matters pertaining to temple demolition, renovation and building of new temples in the state with Khir.

After the dialogue, Malaysiakini asked temple representatives for their comments on the dialogue.

One temple committee member who declined to be named said the menteri besar didn't answer most of the issues raised by the Hindu temples. Instead he is claimed to have chimed in with projects the Barisan Nasional government had done for the Hindu community.

"He didn't say much, but just (speaking to) gain support for BN in the election," he said.

However, the representative from a temple in Klang welcomed the financial allocation for Hindu temples as promised by Khir as it was what they are duly entitled to.

In his speech, Khir had asked the audience whether they agree to set up a body to self-regulate Hindu temples in Selangor. There were no response from the audience at first.

Khir then reiterate his question for the second time asking "agree or not?". Only then majority of the audience said "agree" and gave an applause.

Problems with the new body

However, another temple representative approached by Malaysiakini at the event told that he did not understand why the state government wanted to set up a new regulatory body for Hindu temples.

"In his speech, he (Khir) said the state government already have a committee to take care the Hindu matters. So why (need to set up) a new committee?" asked the temple representative from Banting.

The temple representative was referring to the committee for non-Muslim places of worship in the Selangor government, whose members include non-Muslim state executive councilors.

He also said the setting up a new regulatory body will only cause more problems to Hindu temples as there would be overlapping regulations by the government and the body.

Another temple representative said that he did not see any concrete outcome from the dialogue.

When asked to comment on the memorandum submitted to the Selangor government, he said, "we support the memorandum but if the government is not doing anything about it, (there is) no use (to send any memorandum)," he added.

Demanding government assistance

At the event, a memorandum was submitted to the state government by Malaysian Hindu Council on behalf of Hindu temples in the state:

In the 13-paged memorandum, MHC proposed, among others, that:

– all Hindu temples to be legalised and state government draw up a guideline on legality of Hindu temples upon consultation with Hindu bodies

– certain procedures should be followed in the event of demolition and removal of temples

– government to give a waiver for utilities like electricity, water, sewerage, quit rent and and also assessment

– Hindus should be given the liberty to build a temple to their own specifications

– registration of temple committees with the Registrar of Societies should be made easier

The event was held at Perangsang Templer Golf Club in Rawang. It was originally planned to be held at Batu Caves but later changed to the golf club to accommodate the big number of attendees.

Objections to MHC and Nadarajah

The event started at 5.00pm with speech by MHC chairperson R Nadarajah followed by Khir's speech. Members of the press was asked to leave the venue to allow Khir and temple representatives to talk in private.

During the dialogue, Khir answered the issues raised by temples representatives for about one and a half hour. State exco A Kamala Ganapathy took over from Khir when he left the hall for a press conference with Nadarajah.

The meeting between Hindu temple representatives and Selangor mentri besar had received objection by a group of Indian NGOs earlier. The NGOs questioned the credibility of MHC and Nadarajah to handle the meeting.

Last year, Selangor government took action to demolish all places of worship claimed to be illegally built . The matter was at its height when a 100-year-old temple in Rimba Jaya demolished by the local authority with use of violence and force.

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Rest in Peace Hindu Sangam

January 5th, 2008
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With the creation of the Malaysian Hindu Council, fully supported by (and maybe part of) MIC, MIC is clearly seen as getting rid of MHS. May you rest in peace, Malaysian  Hindu Sangam.
 
MHS is asking Selangor MB why not meeting with them, but dare they ask MIC why not inviting them? Perhaps MIC is upset that a coalition has been set up that sidesteps them?
 
Talking about unity, why is MIC not practising what it preaches? Even today afternoon, MIC Information chief Dato Saravanan talked about UNITY!
 
Anyway, if nothing dramatic happens, like arm-twisting by certain people, MHS will soon be a thing of the past, one more limp NGO.
 
Read other articles about the the issue at:
 
 
 
 

 

Hindu Sangam to Khir: What about us?

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76722
Jan 5, 08 5:00pm

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) is the rightful body for the Selangor state government to consult in regards to Hindu temples, said its deputy president Thiagaraja Ratnasamy today.

Thiagaraja was responding to news reports that Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo had a meeting “700 temple representatives” to discuss the controversial state demolition of temples.

Formed in 1965, MHS is the biggest Hindu temple umbrella group in the country and had a track record of handling such issues, said Thiagaraja.

This includes liaising with the late K Sivalingam who was a Selangor state exco member in charge of non-Muslim affairs and drawing guidelines for Kuala Lumpur City Hall regarding demolition of temples.

“Before the Menteri Besar implements any guidelines in Selangor, he must first have an actual and meaningful dialogue with the actual representatives of temples.

“With 1,802 temples nationwide as members of the MHS, it would appear that we are best placed to assist the state government in this,” said Thiagaraja in a statement today.

Politically motivated?

MHS’ role as an umbrella body for Hindu organisations looks shaken with the establishment of the Malaysian Hindu Council (MHC) and its influence on Hindu temple affairs.

MHC is headed by Jalan Bandar Maha Mariamman temple and Batu Caves temple president R Nadarajah. Nadarajah is a notable businessman who is also known for his close links with MIC president S Samy Vellu.

The meeting with the temple representatives was facilitated by the MHC yesterday, where Khir announced that the state government would not demolish any Hindu temples over the next six months.

During that time frame, the temple committees within Selangor have to form a self-regulatory body to deal directly with the state government on erecting, demolishing and relocating temples.

Observers note that the move by MHS and Khir to set up the committee was likely to drum up support for the Barisan Nasional in the upcoming general election.
 
MIC to set up council of Hindu temples

BERNAMA

 
source

KUALA LUMPUR, Sat.:

The MIC will set up a Council of Hindu Temples in every state to protect the temples and resolve their problems through the state governments, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today. 

The formation of the council comes just weeks after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi instructed Samy Vellu to list the number of temples in the country and identify their problems.

Samy Vellu, who is Works Minister, said the council would be chaired by the state executive councillors from the MIC or the state party chiefs. “The MIC considers the demolition of temples as a very serious political matter and it requires consultations from various parties,” he said in a statement.

As such, the council would be tasked with several functions, among others, to safeguard temples and to protect the integrity of the Hindu religion; to register temples which comply with the requirements; and to obtain permanent and suitable alternative sites for temples. Samy Vellu said that if a temple was found to have been built on private or government land, the council would seek an alternative and suitable site for it.  “The council will also ascertain that the plans for all the temples have been submitted to the local authorities to prevent future problems. The council will get the approval for the plans once they have been submitted,” he said.

However, it would not interfere in the running of the temple or its administration, he added. The council, he said, would list the number of temples in a locality and compile the problems faced by these temples.

The first meeting on the formation of the council was held in Perak last Dec 27, attended by 750 temple heads and chaired by Samy Vellu.  He said the Selangor MIC organised another meeting yesterday which was attended by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo and more than 1,000 temple heads. “I will chair another meeting of temple heads from the Federal Territory on Jan 13,” he said, adding that many cases of temple demolitions are confined to Kuala Lumpur. Samy Vellu said that without political support, the fate of temples, especially those built illegally would be in limbo.

 

THE STAR: MIC to set up council for temples

source

PETALING JAYA: A Council of Hindu Temples will be set up in every state by the MIC to protect and resolve problems through the state governments.  In a statement Saturday, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the council would be chaired by state executive councillors from the party or state MIC chiefs.   "The MIC considers the demolition of temples as a very serious political matter and it requires consultation with various parties," he said.  

He said the council would be given several duties including safeguarding temples, protecting the integrity of Hinduism, registering temples that comply with the requirements and obtaining permanent and suitable alternative sites for temples.   He added that if a temple is found to be built on private or government land, the Council would seek an alternative suitable land for the temple concerned.  

"The Council will also ascertain if the plans for all the temples have been submitted to the local authorities to prevent future problems. The Council will get the approval for the plans once it has been submitted," he said.  

Samy added the Council would not interfere in the running and administration of the temple. Nor would it control or take over the temple committee's tasks.   It would, however, list the number of temples in a locality and compile problems they faced, he said.  

The next meeting of temple heads from the Federal Territory is scheduled for Jan 13.

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Catholic magazine to continue with lawsuit on Allah

January 5th, 2008
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I'm confused. What does the minister mean by:
 

Deputy Security Minister Mohamad Johari Baharum told AFP that the Herald should comply with the government order.

"We approved the permit. Now the weekly should comply with the government decision not to use the word Allah," he said.

Wonder why the permit did not mention such restrictions, but a Cabinet decision is needed, which was done BEFORE the permit being issued?  IEither issuance of permit and cabinet decision is not govt decision? I'm sooo confused.

Read earlier articles on this case here:
 
 
 
 
 

Herald: Lawsuit on 'Allah' to proceed

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76701
Jan 4, 08 5:37pm

Catholic weekly Herald said it would press on with a lawsuit against the government in the wake of a cabinet ban on the use the word 'Allah' days after its printing permit was renewed.

Deputy Security Minister Mohamad Johari Baharum told AFP that the Herald should comply with the government order.

"We approved the permit. Now the weekly should comply with the government decision not to use the word Allah," he said.

Authorities on Sunday allowed the Herald to continue to print, after earlier threatening to revoke its licence in a row over its use of the word 'Allah'.

The publishers then assumed that they could use the word Allah, or God, which is used by church leaders when they deliver sermons in Malay or in the Malay language articles section of the 28-page newspaper.

Editor Father Lawrence Andrew had earlier said the paper would still press ahead with its lawsuit filed last month to challenge the state order banning it from using the word Allah.

"We will not withdraw the lawsuit," he said.

Andrew also said that the newspaper used the word Allah in its first issue for 2008 dated Jan 6.

Cabinet decision

Abdullah Mohamad Zain, minister in the Prime Minister's Department said the cabinet at its meetings on Oct 18 and Nov 1 last year decided that the word Allah could only be used by Muslims to avoid confusion.

Abdullah said non-Muslims should use the word God ('Tuhan' in Malay) instead, although the word Allah has been used in the Malay-language Bible for centuries.

"The use of the word Allah by other religions may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims," he was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper today.

Malaysian commentators have sounded alarm over the growing "Islamisation" of the country and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic communities, which mix much less than in the past.

In recent weeks there have been controversies over the construction of the world's tallest Taoist Goddess of the Sea statue on Borneo island and destruction of Hindu temples by local authorities.

The Herald, a tabloid-sized newspaper, is circulated among the country's 850,000 Catholics with articles written in English, Chinese, Tamil and Malay.

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Sikhs use Allah as well

January 5th, 2008
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'Allah': What about us? ask Sikhs
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Jan 4, 08 1:55pm

For centuries, Sikhs have used the words ‘Allah’ to refer to God as well as the Arabic terms ‘iman’ and ‘ibadat’ for faith and worship.

Following the government’s ban against the usage of purportedly ‘Islamic’ terms by non-Muslims, what will happen to the practice of the Sikh religion in Malaysia?

This was among the question raised today by Malaysian Gurdwara Council head Harcharan Singh following reports that the cabinet had decided against allowing the use of the term Allah by those practicing religions other than Islam.

“We have used the terms Allah and Rahim (Most Merciful), for example, extensively in our writings and in our prayers to refer to the One God. The word Allah is used in our main holy scripture.

"Sikh gurus in India have used these terms for centuries, they have become part of the Punjabi language, and we are still using them today,” said Harcharan when contacted.

Sikhs also use the word ‘Khuda’ for God, he noted in reference to the term used, among others, by Bangladeshi Muslims.

“In addition to these words, we also use the terms 'iman' and 'ibadat' among the many other words (that are used by Muslims),” added Harcharan, whose organisation represents Sikhs in Malaysia.

“If the word Allah has been banned for use by non-Muslims, what’s going to happen to Sikhs and the practice of their religion?” he asked.

Harcharan’s (photo) comments follow on the heels of a decision announced by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdulllah Mohd Zin yesterday that the cabinet had disallowed Catholic publication Herald from using the words Allah (God), solat (prayer), Kaabah and baitullah (House of God) in its weekly’s Bahasa Malaysia section.

Abdullah, who oversees Islamic religious affairs, was reported today as having said the prime minister had directed him to clarify the matter so that the public would not be confused.

“One of the reasons given to uphold the restriction is because that it has long been the practice of this country that the word Allah refers to God according to the Muslim faith,” said Abdullah according to the Star.

It was only proper for other religions to use the word God and not Allah when referring to their God in respective beliefs, he added.

Poser for the government
Harcharan pointed out that the usage by Sikhs of Arabic and Persian terms normally used by Muslims is understandable given, among other facts, that Sikhism founder Guru Nanak had traveled extensively throughout Muslim lands.

Nevertheless, the issue raises a poser for the government, said Harcharan.

“I don’t know whether the basis of the government’s ban on the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims is political or religious. But if in today’s age of globalisation we are stopping people of one religion from using the words ‘belonging’ to another, I don’t know where we are heading,” he said.

Herald had earlier faced proscription following the Internal Security Ministry’s directive for it to refrain from using the word Allah in its weekly’s Bahasa Malaysia section.

Herald was later informed it’s permit had been renewed, with its editor Father Lawrence Andrew saying he had received a letter indicating it can resume printing without any restrictions.

Notwithstanding, the publisher has filed a writ of summons in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to seek declarations of use of the word Allah.

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