THE clock ticks down as the 5pm deadline today (Feb 25) approaches for the demolition of a temple structure built without authorisation on a piece of land belonging to Yayasan Kubra in Rawang, Selangor.
To re-cap, the so-called kuil haram (illegal temples) controversy has divided the nation while raising communal tensions to dangerous levels.
Hence, a Facebook post by social commentator Mohd Fadli Salleh a.k.a. Cikgu Fadli seem designed to further stir the already simmering pot.
Yayasan Kubra’s has appointed agent provocateur Tamim Dahri who happens to be the Gerakan Anti Rumah Anutan Haram (GARAH) co-founder to be in charge of the “clean-up” operation while his lawyer Aidil Khalid had invited members of the public to be present for the demolition at 5pm today.
Calling it a “gotong-royong” exercise, it was underlined that this event was in no way meant to stir up 3R (race, religion and royalty) sentiments but merely an act to uphold the sanctity of Malaysian laws.
Somehow pouring fuel to the fire, Cikgu Fadli – the former teacher of SK Gombak l who rose to fame for his incessant criticism on the Mathematic syllabus in the national school system – has somehow expressed hope that silat grandmasters Muhammad Khan Tok Panglima Aduka can mobilise “silat groups in the vicinity along”.
“Feel a little more secure when the silat associations also join in. Let’s unite in upholding the laws of the country,” he opined.
While reiterating that this was not a race or religious issue, Cikgu Fadli who had opted for early retirement further insinuated that there may be potential for a flashpoint during the 5pm demolition. It was surmised the presence of such silat troupes will provide added security.
The thinly disguised call to arms was backed by those who obviously view this issue as a poke-in-the-eye to Malay rights. Claiming that this demolition should have been carried out long ago, these commenters called the silat practitioners to be on the “frontline”.
One commenter openly questioned the motive for extending the invite to silat groups. It was insinuated that this invitation was designed to provoke racial strife though Cikgu Fadli had repeatedly claimed the contrary.
This commenter was obviously unconvinced and was of the firm belief that the matter should be left to the relevant authorities.
Given this was a post on Cikgu Fadli’s social media platform, it should be no surprise that this commenter’s query got plenty of push back from right-leaning citizens who fumed that “there has been inaction on the part of the local authorities for tens of years”.
One commenter sarcastically noted that silat practitioners were fit and strong, hence could contribute to the gotong-royong effort.
The silat groups involvement was also cheered on by controversial Muslim convert preacher Firdaus Wong Wai Hung.
Highlighting that the temple administrators had already removed the idols and deities from the premises before the structure was demolished, it was noted by the Multiracial Reverted Muslim,(MRM) founder that the Gayong Martial Arts Association Malaysia led by Tok Chindai and PERKID led by Ustaz Masridzi were appointed to carry out the structure demolition works by Yayasan Kubra as the rightful owner of the land.
Some commenters here have also pointed out that the demolition and clean up should be the responsibility of the temple committee.
To not put too fine a point on it, this is a highly sensitive issue. One that is threatening to rip the fabric of Malaysian society apart.
The rights and wrongs of the issue are complex, convoluted and controversial. Last thing needed are inflammatory invitations to silat warriors ‘to guard’ the destruction of temple structures and no doubt, provide a show of muscle. – Feb 25, 2026
