நூறு வருட பழைய மகா மாரியம்மன் கோவில் மலேசிய அரசாங்கத்தால் இடிக்கப்பட்டது

எந்த முன்னாள் மசூதியையும் இடித்து கட்டப்படாத, நூறுவருடங்களாக தமிழர்கள் வழிபட்டு வந்த மகாமாரியம்மன் கோவில் மலேசிய அரசாங்கத்தால் இடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இது பொது நிலத்தில் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது (encroached land) என்று அரசாங்கம் கூறுகிறது.

மலேசியா சுதந்திரம் பெற்று சட்டம் எழுதியே நூறு வருடங்கள் கூட கிடையாது. இவர்கள் சட்டபூர்வமாக கட்டப்படாத கோவில் என்று இந்த கோவில்களை வகைப்படுத்துகிறார்கள்.

இவர்கள் மனம் திருந்தி அமைதி மார்க்கமாம் இந்துமதம் வர விரும்புவோம்.

Hindu temple brought down in Malaysia, Minister appeals
2 Nov 2007, 1354 hrs IST,PTI

KUALA LUMPUR: A top Malaysian minister has urged local authorities in this Muslim-majority country to immediately cease demolition of Hindu temples after a 100-year-old shrine was pulled down early this week.

Works Minister and head of the Malaysian Indian Congress Samy Vellu, who is of Indian origin, said that Hindu temples built on encroached land were still being demolished despite his appeals to the various state chief ministers.

Vellu said the Indian community had no choice but to build their temples on private or government-owned land, as they did not own any land of their own to build the temples.

Referring to the demolition of the Maha Mariamman Templea in Padang Jawa on Tuesday, Vellu said it had hurt the feelings of the Hindu community in the area.

Four people were reportedly hurt and dozens detained following scuffles between devotees and the city authorities over the century-old temple, the local media said.

"Temples are still being destroyed even though I have repeatedly brought the issue up during meetings with chief ministers," the minister said in a statement, the New Straits Times said today.

He added that the government could not penalise those who merely wished to practise their religion and exercise their right to believe in God.

"It is a well-known fact that the majority of Hindu voters, and almost the entire Indian community in fact, are Barisan Nasional (the ruling coalition) supporters.

"As such, I am pleading with the government to not resort to drastic measures like demolishing temples, even though they have been constructed illegally."