This is quite surprising. I remember reading interview with new mayor where he talked about karma and all (sounded like a well-read and understanding guy), and then this news appears on FMT. Decoration like kolam is quite common even in shopping centers! \u00a0Banana trees are usually put at the entrance – can see it at Hindu weddings especially at temples. Wonder what’s the reason for DBKL’s actions. Is it because of cleanliness factors or there are considered religious symbols? \u00a0Or perhaps MHS wasn’t aware of such rules?<\/p>\n
\nSenator S Ramakrishnan of the DAP today demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak over Kuala Lumpur City Hall\u2019s (DBKL) decision to disallow cultural decorations to be put up in their hall for an event by Malaysia Hindu Sangam.<\/p>\n
\u201cNajib must investigate why an event officiated by his representative was marred by DBKL\u2019s stupid act which hurts the feeling of delegates,\u201d said Ramakrishnan in a press statement today.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is totally unbecoming of DBKL since they are under the Federal Territories and Urban Well Being Ministry that has a Hindu deputy minister,\u201d said Ramakrishnan.<\/p>\n
He was commenting on DBKL\u2019s decision to disallow MHS from decorating the venue \u2013 a DBKL hall \u2013 with kolam, a colourful rice based decoration, and banana trees in conjunction with a conference which was held yesterday.<\/p>\n
MHS had organised a conference to launch temple worship guidelines yesterday at the DBKL training institute hall in Cheras.<\/p>\n
The conference was attended by about 800 delegates from all over the country with PM\u2019s representative honouring the event.<\/p>\n
The hall was rented for RM4,600 and an additional RM300 paid for DBKL staff manning the hall for the event.<\/p>\n
The conference was supposed to be officiated by Najib but was subsequently delegated to Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam.<\/p>\n
Ramakrishnan also lashed out at DBKL for their lack of sensitivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is DBKL afraid to allow such simple cultural decorations?<\/p>\n
\u201cDBKL is a public body that serves all Malaysians, so why did it abstain MHS from putting up biodegradable and easily disposal cultural decorations?<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it is a rule not to allow any decorations by any user of the hall then that should have been made known at the time of hall booking and not one day before the event?<\/p>\n
\u201cThis act of DBKL shows how they look down on cultural practices of Indian Malaysians,\u201d said Ramakrishnan.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n