PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has just moments ago today (March 25) confirmed thaT he would proceed as planned to perform the ground-breaking ceremony of the purported Masjid Madani on Thursday (March 25).
On this note, PMX wants the temple management to continue its discussion with the landowner and DBKL on the temple’s eventual re-location to another site.
“I will proceed to lay the foundation stone of the mosque on the 27th of the month (Thursday). I ask the temple committee to consult well. The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), the company in question, DBKL … all of them are asked to be moderate, polite and to discuss well,” he pointed out in his speech in conjunction with the 218th Police Day Commemoration at the Police Training Centre (PULAPOL).
“I ask the temple committee to do the same, discuss well. We are friends and companions, and don’t think of us as tyrants or listen to instigators.”
“I will proceed to lay the foundation stone of the mosque on the 27th of the month (Thursday). I ask the temple committee to consult well. The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), the company in question, DBKL … all of them are asked to be moderate, polite and discuss well.
“I ask the temple committee to do the same, discuss well. We are friends and companions and do not think of us as tyrants and do not listen to instigators,” he said in his speech in conjunction with the 218th Police Day Commemoration at the Police Training Centre (PULAPOL) here today.
Appealing for understanding, PMX stated that he found himself caught between a rock and a hard place as extremist Muslims chided him for giving in to the Hindu pressure given the temple does not possess a proper land title despite claims of its 130-year existence while “extremists Hindus claim that I want convert everyone”.
“I’ve personally verified the land ownership information … mosques (and surau in Jalan Mashid India vicinity) are packed, hence there’s a need for a new place. Henceforth I’ll go ahead as planned to perform the ground-breaking ceremony (on March 27)”.
Anwar went on to highlight that idea for mosque was approved in 2019 (during the premiership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) while approval for its development was obtained in 2020 (during the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration).
“Thereafter, the go-ahead for its constriction was approved on 2021 (during the Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s tenure) … but the one seems to be at fault is the current PM,” he quipped.
PMX further assured that despite Islam being the official religion and Muslims form the majority of the populace, the rights of the minority will be safeguarded.
“But both the majority and minority must abide by the law … we cannot have the tyranny of the majority and neither should we condone the tyranny of the minority. We’ve to defend such Madani values,” he stressed. – March 25, 2025
