PROBLEMS seem to crop up whenever local authorities take action on illegal
structures. Hindu places of worship have to make way for development, or the
private owners want the land back. Whether it be a large 100-year-old temple or
a small 19-year-old roadside shrine, the tearing down of Hindu holy sites has
developed into a contentious issue. The fractious undercurrents threatening this
country lend a particular urgency to the need to find workable ways to manage
and settle the problem. Otherwise, such demolition jobs could have the potential
of damaging the special harmony that had allowed those temples to be built in
the first place.
A good place to start would be for the authorities to
recognise that whenever they try to unilaterally regulate religion, they
invariably run into trouble. While they may have the law on their side, this is
not just a legal issue but a religious question as well. It would, therefore, be
prudent for local authorities to desist from demolishing temples and shrines
without first consulting representatives of the Hindu community. As the largest
umbrella body for Hindus with a track record of working effectively with
federal, state and local governments, Malaysia Hindu Sangam seems well placed to
play a mediating role. It has already established a special committee and
prepared guidelines to address the relocation and demolition of temples. With
many of the estimated 17,000 Hindu holy sites in the country apparently still
unregistered and lacking legal status, its plans to prepare a detailed record of
temples in each and every state would prove invaluable. At a time when all sorts
of inflammatory things are being said, we need an organisation that is prepared,
according to its president, to approach the issue not only from a "Hindu
perspective" but also "with due regard to all of us being part of a multiracial,
multi-religious nation".
But as tempting as it may be to exclude political parties from such interaction
and collaboration -- for the reason that they seem more interested in milking
the issue for political mileage and some no longer have popular backing within
their community -- it may be better to get them involved. It may be unruly and
noisy to include them -- and those critical of the establishment -- but they are
as much an integral part of the diverse Hindu community as anyone else. Given
that behind the disputes over temples -- and other religious questions -- lie a
profoundly political issue, it is necessary to canvass all shades of Hindu
opinion and gain their support to temper the tempers over the controversy.
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