BERSATU Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal must be living in a fantasy world.
Recently, he claimed that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government in general and PAS in particular is sensitive to the rights of the non-Muslims. Islam directs those Muslim rulers in power to protect the places of worship of non-Muslims.
He was referring to the allegations made against the DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng about the danger posed by PN towards non-Muslim places of worship.
In actual fact, Lim never made the sweeping statement about the danger PN posed to the non-Muslim places of worship but he only made reference to demolition of the more than 100-years old Sri Madurai Veeram temple that was located near the railway station in Alor Setar, Kedah in July 2020.
The temple that was built for the Tamil railway workers before independence was completely demolished in the wee hours of the morning on July 19, 2020.
The huge tree which was hundreds of years old that provided a canopy for the temple was cut down mercilessly to ensure that another temple will not be constructed later. The place where the temple was located was later converted into a motorcycle parking place.
Six months later, another Hindu temple – the 30-year-old Sri Raja Muniswaran temple in Kuala Kedah – was demolished to make way for a playground.
Later, another temple was earmarked for demolition by the local government authorities in Sungai Petani.
All these took place after the PAS government helmed by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor came into power in Kedah in 2018. Sanusi even had the temerity to cancel the Thaipusam state holiday for Hindus in Kedah.
Talk is cheap
Wan Fayhsal should try to remember that instances of temple demolitions took place after the PAS government took power in Kedah in 2018.
Sanusi should be held responsible for the destruction of the two temples within the spate of few months. This was despite the intervention of two federal ministers.
The point is Wan Fayhsal should explain why the PAS government destroyed two Hindu temples within the spate of few months. Why deny the much sought after Thaipusam holiday for the Hindus in the state?
Surely such acts against non-Muslims cannot be permitted under an Islamic administration, according to Wan Fayhsal. So, how to explain this contradiction on the part of the PAS government in Kedah?
Kedah was under the administration of the PAS, an Islamic government. How come then that Sanusi did not adhere to the principle of tolerance and protection of the non-Islamic places of worship in Kedah?
Therefore, what assurances are there from the PN government that if they come to power that non-Muslim places of worship would be safeguarded?
Talk is cheap for Wan Fayhsal, for he doesn’t remember history or conveniently forgets the unsavoury aspects of PN’s administration in Kedah.
Given the above Hindu temple demolitions in 2020 in Kedah, it will be difficult for the PN to convince non-Muslims that the coalition has their interests and well-being in mind.
Perhaps, I would like to suggest to Wan Fayhsal to look back at the recent history in Kedah before he blabbers about the sanctity of the PN coalition. – July 11, 2023
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the DAP state assemblyman for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
