WHEN Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivered his “victory” speech after a “hard-fought battle” to get a Hindu temple relocated, his political foes in PAS must be dancing with joy.
Here is seen a true fighter who is upholding the sanctity of his religion in the face of fierce opposition from outsiders who sought to keep the temple intact.
In pursuing its agenda of establishing an Islamic state, PAS would have raised heaven and hell if Anwar had relented and allowed the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple to remain at the site which it had been occupying for the last 130 years.
It can be said that the PKR president is doing the job of PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in facing down his critics in the temple dispute.
To PAS, what is probably heroic about the Madani battle is that Anwar exhibited strong characteristics of a warrior who would defend his turf in a showdown.
He put his foot down and shot down all the missiles of criticisms launched at him. There was no way he would permit a mosque to be built next to a temple. Or build the mosque at the new site while the temple stays put.
Mind made up
The very use of the word “victory” carries the connotation that there was a hostile confrontation between the two adversaries in an essentially unequal conquest.
It is a foregone conclusion as to who would emerge victorious. Not a shot was fired as Anwar planted the flag of victory on the site of Jalan Masjid India.
Of course, the commander-in-chief could have shown compassion towards his opponents. In fact, one foot soldier by the name of Hassan Abdul Karim went up to his chief and delivered a letter.
It turned out that Hassan is Anwar’s bosom friend of long-ago years who argued in his letter along the same lines as Anwar: the matter could be settled with fairness, justice and wisdom.
Indeed, Anwar did demonstrate such noble qualities but not according to Hassan’s liking. The ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman probably took one look at the open letter and tore it apart.
If PMX had taken the advice as stated in the letter, especially Hassan’s proposal to build the mosque next to the temple, there would probably be a mutiny. His PKR infantry might desert him and join forces with Hadi.
One could imagine what was Anwar’s reaction on reading the contents of the open letter. “How dare you side with your enemies!! Get back! You deserve to be court-martialled!”
Battle far from over
And so the outcome went Anwar’s way. One “comrade in arms” named Datuk Zaliha Mustafa described the ground-breaking ceremony as “historic” – yet another loaded word which could also mean the opponents had at last been vanquished after a long conflict.
Of course, “victory” and “historic” are wrapped up in religious garb by giving the impression that the Madani leaders were upholding a holy cause.
But there is no hiding the fact that what had happened was a raw demonstration of the arrogance of political power.
The battle has not ended because there are some 130 temples built in Kuala Lumpur without permission and which might face a similar fate. And this time the Madani man of courage would not be so accommodative.
The battle-hardened “general” has already revealed his strategy: in the future, these temples might not be given an alternative site which means the demolition squad might move in and demolish these houses of worship.
One can imagine PMX giving the order to take down these religious establishments although such an overt display of power would be anathema to his religious beliefs. But that’s politics. With political power comes show of force. – April 3, 2025
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Anwar Ibrahim/Facebook
