Posts Tagged ‘temples’

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Jakim, police and Hindu Sangam meet to sort out religious issues

November 11th, 2007
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Jakim, cops and Hindu Sangam meet to sort out religious issues
 
By LOURDES CHARLES
 
KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic Development Department (Jakim), police and Hindu Sangam are working on an amicable way to resolve religious issues affecting Hindus, particularly concerning conversion to Islam and demolition of temples. This was discussed in a meeting between Jakim director-general Datuk Wan Mohamed Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam, arranged by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan in Bukit Aman on Wednesday.
 
Vaithilingam, who said the meeting had opened up a "new channel", added that the aim was to come up with standard operating procedures on such matters. "This is the beginning of positive things to follow. We now have a better understanding of each others' role as far as religious matters are concerned," he said, adding that the Hindu Sangam and Jakim had agreed to consult each other on religious matters and the issues involved. Vaithilingam praised Musa for his role and concern in wanting to resolve such religious issues peacefully.
 
Wan Mohamed said more discussions were needed, adding that the department was still in an early stage of exploring and understanding the sensitivity of conversion to Islam. "We will sit down and discuss such sensitive matters with others to find a solution," he assured. 
 
Musa said he called for the meeting, as he did not want certain quarters to exploit the matter. "The best way is to sit down and discuss, and I am available to meet any party to resolve such issues. "The Prime Minister has said that he must be informed before a temple is to be demolished," added the IGP, who sat in at the meeting.  

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shah alam temple issue is administrative weakness ?

November 11th, 2007
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I hope to see some accountability over these administrative weaknesses. Khir Toyo and Shah Alam mayor must take responsibility over this "weakness". They must apologise and resign. We have gone so long without any accountability from our leaders and lots of passing the buck acts. The rot must stop here. More on this later.
 
 
Samy: Demolished temple issue resolved
KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of the Hindu temple in Shah Alam that was demolished has been resolved, with the Selangor state government allocating a plot of land for the temple's relocation. 

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the solution was reached after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi directed him and Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo to sit down and resolve the matter. 

"Earth work for the temple relocation has begun," Samy Vellu told newsmen at the Putra World Trade Centre on Wednesday after the presidential address at the Umno general assembly. 

Samy Vellu, who is Works Minister, stressed that the MIC had never looked at the temple demolition issue as a religious problem but more as an administrative weakness. 

"Only I as the president had voiced my view on the matter to the Prime Minister and Mentri Besar," he said. 

"I have spoken to the Prime Minister and I have told him that we will all celebrate Deepavali," he said, adding that he would also attend the national-level Deepavali celebrations in Brickfields on Nov 11.

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samy vellu hurt over temple demolition

November 11th, 2007
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Samy Vellu: We are hurt over temple demolition

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By : David Yeow and Neville Spykerman

 

KUALA LUMPUR: "We are hurt. That's all I am going to say. Hurt is hurt."

This was the reaction from MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu yesterday on the demolition of a 36-year-old Hindu temple in Shah Alam by the Selangor government. Samy Vellu said he was so hurt by the state government's action that MIC almost cancelled all its Deepavali open houses as a mark of respect to all Hindus. The MIC had issued a statement on Monday announcing that all open houses by MPs and state assemblymen would be cancelled, but the notice was retracted hours later.

Samy Vellu expressed displeasure at the handling of the temple issue at Kampung Karuppiah, Padang Jawa, by the authorities, but said he was ready to move on. "There are discussions and meetings going on between MIC and the state government. "It is our hope that in the future, something like this will never happen," he said after presenting the Jalur Gemilang to 15 youths who will represent Malaysia in the 39th World Skills Competition in Shizuoka, Japan.

"For us (MIC), we are part of the government. We want to solve problems, not fight with the government." Samy Vellu said the state government had allocated a 10,000 square feet land in Shah Alam for the temple to be rebuilt. "The menteri besar has given his word that they will help to rebuild the temple." Samy Vellu also assured Hindus that the statues of deities had been removed safely.

He blasted a group of residents in Padang Jaya who are adamant in rebuilding the temple at the original site. Samy Vellu said he was aware that many are unhappy with the demolition of the temple. "I am also unhappy and have expressed this point to the cabinet and to the council of menteris besar and chief ministers."

 
In a function on Monday in "Little India" in Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang, Samy Vellu said he would be calling for a meeting of all committees of temples built on private or government land in Selangor. "This is to help resolve the problem of temporary temples, which do not have their own land and are not registered," he said. He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had decided that in future, issues relating to temples must be dealt with by the menteri besar and himself.

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SRK Tamil Ladang Bukit Jalil new site surrounded by proposed cemetery

November 9th, 2007
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This school became famous due to the frequent flood that happened (read more here and here) and the slack work by DBKL. The parents got together to repair the drains and other maintenance works. As usual, after highlighted in media, MIC and govt sprang into action. The education ministry provided alternative land…which turns out to be small (with no field) and surrounded by cemetery.

Now, try convincing me that all the speeches at UMNO Assembly yesterday about being "sensitive to others", "we are all Malaysians", etc. are really true.

Quoting PM's speech: "Malaysia is a nation for all races and there is a future for every citizen" and "Issues must be addressed on the basis of the interests of the nation and the Malaysian people as a whole."

More quotes: “We are ready to seek intelligent resolutions and win-win solutions when dealing with sensitive issues relating to race and religion,” he said.

Let's leave out the race issue (it being a Tamil school), and consider if any sane person would put a school in such a place. I'm being Malaysian and questioning the logic of this move. This really takes the cake: "When contacted, Kuala Lumpur City Hall said the plans for the cemetery reserve land had not been finalised and that so far no complaints had been received." Need to for complaint ahh..? Where's your common sense la? Makes one wonder what these people been eating for food!

From wet to eerie for Tamil school

By : Evangeline Majawat and Choong En Han
source

Proposed location of SRKT Ladang Bukit Jalil

KUALA LUMPUR: The joy of moving into a new and better school was short-lived when parents of the pupils found out the site will be on reserve land for cemeteries. 

Less than a month ago, the Education Ministry approved RM650,000 to build a new school for SRK (T) Ladang Bukit Jalil which had been hit by floods five times in September. But the site for the new school, which is about 1km away from the present site, is on a large plot of land reserved for burial grounds. Parents were initially enthusiastic when Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced the relocation on Oct 16, as the 60-year-old school was in a state of dilapidation, especially after the floods. "We were shocked to find out that the new school will be surrounded by cemeteries," Ladang Bukit Jalil resident action committee secretary Thiakarjan Sathasivam, 54, said.

"It's unthinkable how the authorities can allocate such a piece of land. How do they expect the children to learn in such an environment?" To make matters worse, space is limited as the new school building would be alongside a temple on a 0.4ha plot. This is small in comparison to the surrounding burial grounds. The cemetery reserve land will be segmented according to the different religions: two cemeteries for Muslims (9.6ha); Buddhists (3.3ha); Christians (0.5ha); Hindus (0.4ha); and other religions (0.17ha). A detention centre will stand in the midst of the Muslim burial ground. "The land is so small, and shared with a temple too. There is also no field for the children to play." Thiakarjan said that the authorities should allot at least 5ha for the new school building. "The dead should be respected and a school should not be placed in the midst of dead people."

A parent, who declined to be named, is worried of the effect on the pupils. "No parent would want to send their children to study in such a setting. "Psychologically, the kids will be affected. These children seem to be discriminated because of their simple background," said the mother of two.

When contacted, Kuala Lumpur City Hall said the plans for the cemetery reserve land had not been finalised and that so far no complaints had been received. A visit to the present school site by New Straits Times found that the construction of the detention centre was under way. The empty plot beside the school was full of rubbish and a breeding ground for vectors.

Yasotharan Rajandren, 11, a pupil of SRK (T) Ladang Bukit Jalil said it was common for snakes and rats to enter the classroom. Yasotharan also said mosquitoes were abundant in the area. Flats and an upcoming gated community lie on the fringes of the proposed burial grounds.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Tamil-Schools

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All under one roof

November 7th, 2007
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All under one roof

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By WANI MUTHIAH

TO have more than one generation staying together under one roof is surely very uncommon in our age of nuclear families, especially in the urban areas.  

So, motor workshop owner S. Alagarasamy and his wife K. Rani are certainly a blessed couple as all their four children, including the married ones and their children, are staying with them. 

“Many ageing couples suffer from the empty nest syndrome but fortunately, my husband and I have been spared of this,” Rani said. 

Their only son Rajeswaran, 34, and eldest daughter Sri Punitha, 28, are married and have three children each. 

“Because everyone is still with us, Deepavali is always extra special as my husband and I enjoy the hustle and bustle of the preparations,” Rani told StarMetro at the family’s modest single-storey home at Taman Gembira in Klang. 

Alagarasamy concurred and said that celebrating the festival with all six of their grandchildren, aged between 11 and 4, was truly a blessing. 

Besides Rajeswaran and Sri Punitha, the elderly couple’s other children are Amutha, 26, and Hemalatha, 18. 

Rani’s younger sister K. Vasantha, 46, who is single, also lives with the family. 

Daughter-in-law M. Kalaiselvi, 26, and son-in-law K.Mahendran, 36, also make-up the 14-member extended family. 

According to Rani, on the morning of Deepavali, all the family members will wake up at 5am for the ritual oil bath and then head for the nearest temple for prayers. 

“We will then come home to have breakfast together and enjoy the pleasure that comes with having our children and grandchildren close to us,” she said. 

Since, both her married daughter and daughter-in-law were housewives, cakes and cookies for the festival were also prepared in abundance. 

“My sister Vasantha, who also stays at home, makes sure that we have an ample spread to treat friends and relatives who come to visit on Deepavali day,” Rani said. 

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