Let cool heads prevail on temple issue

ONLY six months ago, Malaysia notched a unique position in the realm of democracy in the eyes of the world. The country experienced a dramatic general election and a peaceful change in government, sans bloodshed or threats of racial strife.

A peaceful transition happening for a country like Malaysia – a melting pot of people from various races and religious beliefs – is simply a godsend. It displayed the maturity of the people and their acceptance of a democratic political process.

The privileged peace and harmony we have is currently threatened by the relocation of a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya. Fears of mob rule rather than the adherence of the rule of law reared its ugly head briefly.

Fortunately, authorities were quick to nip the escalating issue in the bud. It took three days for the police to get a lead on the possible identity of the agents provocateurs.

Investigations reveal that lawyers involved in the relocation of the temple allegedly hired a group of Malay thugs to “assist” in vacating the temple so that the land could be developed.

When these thugs violated the Hindu temple and subsequently assaulted some devotees, it naturally sparked racial tension.

Now that bits and pieces of what really transpired has emerged, cool heads must prevail moving forward.

It is imperative that all parties work towards containing this rancour. Coming up with a solution within the democratic process is just as necessary.

The law is clear – it accepts places of worship and at the same time, also allows for development. Seafield Temple is not the first to face issues concerning relocation. Neither will it be the last.

Previous incidents have made sure that there are laws to protect all parties concerned.

Disputes can take a while to be settled, but a court decision usually puts an end to the disagreement, like it did with the Seafield temple case.

The decision made at the High Court in March 2014 is a good starting point for the developer and temple committee to return to the drawing board. It may need more tweaking and negotiations, but it must be resolved amicably through the process of law.

Currently, emotions are running high. However, those responsible for putting the lid on the matter should be aware that this goes beyond simply having a place of worship or building more houses.

The onus is on them to ensure that multiracial Malaysia adopts changes without the fear of seeing race and religion exploited.

The country is at relative peace now as it braces for an economic downturn anticipated next year. We don’t need to be side-tracked by incidents such as the Seafield temple relocation.

The government’s priority should be on fixing the economy. Issues involving race and religion should, as far as possible, be handled carefully through existing processes.