Stop Temple Demolitions in Malaysia !!

From Malaysiakini :

The Kampung Rimba Jaya in Padang Jawa, near Shah Alam was a chaotic scene last night when residents tried to prevent the Shah Alam City Hall from demolishing their houses.

The residents’ attempt to save their homes turned physical and bloody when scores were hurt in the ensuing melee.

Fifteen residents were also arrested and are now being detained at the Shah Alam Section 11 police station.

In the end, over 200 houses, a 100-year-old temple and a surau have been levelled to the ground by the authorities. Even the presence of MIC president S Samy Vellu could not save the houses and the temple.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has condemned the manner employed by the authorities to demolish a Hindu temple.


Temple Demolitions in Malaysia: Hindraf's Open Letter to PM

HINDRAF
(Hindu Rights Action Force)

No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,
Kemayan Square,
70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia. Tel : 06-7672995/6
Fax: 06-7672997 Email waytha@hotmail.com

Y.A.B. DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI
Prime Minister of Malaysia 30.10.2007
Block Utama, By Hand
Bangunan Perdana Putra, Fax: 88883444
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, VERY URGENT
62502 Putrajaya. Email: reduceredtape@pmo.gov.my
Email: abdullah@kdn.gov.my

Y.A.B,

RE: 1. BLOODSHED IN MARIAMAN HINDU TEMPLE DEMOLISHMENT IN KG JAWA KLANG TODAY 20 INJURED BY POLICE AND ARRESTED.

2. URGENT APPOINTMENT TO MEET AND BRIEF PRIME MINISTER AND MALAYSIAN CABINET MEETING AT 9.00A.M ON 31.10.2007.

3. SOS TWO (2) HINDU TEMPLES DEMOLISHED IN ONE (1) DAY AND ANOTHER GIVEN NOTICE TO BE DEMOLISHED.

4. PRE DAWN ATTACK TODAY AND DEMOLISHMENT OF SRI NAGAKOOLI JAI MUNISWARAR HINDU TEMPLE IN TAMAN PUCHONG HARTAMAS.

5. NOTICE TO DEMOLISH ATTORRAM SRI KALIAMMAN HINDU TEMPLE JALAN BANTING, PORT KLANG, SELANGOR.

6. “PM: WE CAN STILL TALK” (STAR 30.10.2007 PG N12). BETTER TO TALK, PM TELLS BAR (NST 30.10.2007 PG 13) - MERELY PAPER TALK.

Today marks a heightened racial and religious persecution against the Hindusin Malaysia with two Hindu temples being demolished in one day without a valid court Order or any Notice for that matter.

All roads to the said the 100 over year old Sri Maha Mariaman temple had been cordoned off by about 300 police personnel and the Shah Alam City Hall (MPSA) enforcement officials and their heavy machinery. A malay muslim mob and Indian gangsters are also present. All Hindus are excluded from entering the temple area to make way for the final onslaught. The area looks like a war zone.

At 4.15p.m the police, MPSA authorities and the others launched a brutal attack ala the military regime of Myanmar by hurling stones and beating devotees with sticks and batons. At least 20 devotees were injured and bleeding, some seriously injured. An MPSA enforcement officer even stabbed a devotee with a knife and he and at least three (3) others are now hospitalised. The temple is now completely demolished and deities smashed up. The police have told devotees that they have a shooting order to shoot (unarmed) devotees on sight.

Earlier at about 9.00 a.m this temple was partially demolished. The kindergarden in the temple compound serving the poor Hindu children was completely demolished.

A pre dawn attack was also launched at 4.00a.m on another 160 year old Jai Muniswarar Hindu temple in Taman Puchong Hartamas whereafter the same was completely demolished and the deities therein smashed up. Vide our hundreds of letters and memorandums to your goodself over the last few years we have repeatedly highlighted an average of one Hindu temple being demolished in every three (3) weeks in Malaysia. This is despite the fact that the same is in violation of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution and also a criminal offence further to Section 295 (defiling a place of worship), Section 296 (disturbing a religious assembly), 298A(causing racial disharmony) and Section 441(criminal trespass) of the Malaysian Penal Code.

In today’s media headlines as mentioned hereinbove “PM: We can still talk” and “Better to talk, PM tells Bar” is clearly and merely “paper talk” or “political gimmick” and not meant to be put into practice.

Is this the multi racial, multi cultural and multi religious Malaysia your goodself is projecting to the world Mr.Prime Minister? Malaysia truly Asia!

Is this how Malaysia is celebrating it’s 50th year golden jubilee independence celebrations this year!

Please urgently stop your atrocities against the poor marginalised, oppressed and suppressed ethnic minority Indian community Mr.Prime Minister!

We hereby seek an urgent appointment to meet and address the Prime Minister and the Malaysian Cabinet at the weekly cabinet meeting in Putrajaya on 31.10.2007 at 9.00a.m. there would also be a peaceful assembly further to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution on 31.10.2007 at 8.00a.m onwards.

Thank You,
Yours Faithfully

P. Uthayakumar
Legal Adviser
(Source)

Yes, the people are fed up!