The suggested relocation of a Hindu temple in Malaysia’s capital to make way for a mosque has drawn public backlash, highlighting long-standing grievances over religious equity and urban redevelopment in Malaysia.
Advertisement
The Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple, set in a small but desirable space between a block of flats and textile shops in central Kuala Lumpur, faces an uncertain future after the land it occupies was sold to textile giant Jakel, which plans to build a mosque on the site.
Located in the Masjid India neighbourhood – named after the 140-year-old Tamil Muslim mosque that anchors it – the Hindu temple claims to trace its foundation to just 10 years after the Muslim place of worship was built.
It originally sat on government land before that was sold to Jakel in 2014. The company’s late founder, Mohamed Jakel Ahmad, bought the plot with the intention of building what would be the fourth mosque in the area and gifting it to the Muslim community.
But the issue rumbled on without concrete action until recent weeks. The groundbreaking of the new mosque is reportedly set for this Thursday, officiated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Lawyers for Liberty executive director Zaid Malek questioned the rush, saying the discussion between the temple, Jakel, and the city hall was still ongoing.