SOMETIMES an honest opinion goes a long way to correct misperception so that constructive measures can be made to seek improvement.
Such is the case with the question posed by Threader 🐣(@ziercuben) as to why foreign visitors to Malaysia like to flock the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves than Putrajaya Mosque by the lakeside of the man-made Putrajaya Lake.
“Likewise, when it comes to an eating place, the main locations have to be Jalan Alor/ Changkat Bukit Bintang or Petaling Street a.k.a. Chinatown instead of Kampung Baru,” lamented the self-proclaimed truth-seeker.
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“It seems like this is the template for foreigners to travel. Where has Malaysia’s tourism gone wrong from the beginning?”
For starters, one commenter argued that Batu Caves “is one of Malaysia’s iconic landmarks other than the KLCC Twin Towers”.
“Just like other famous landmarks around the world, tourists want to visit and take photos there. A photo with Batu Caves in the background simply says, “Yes, I’ve been to Malaysia!” That’s the beauty of having an iconic landmark.”
This is when one Muslim commenter who perhaps is familiar with the administrative centre suggested to the poster to “try going to the Putrajaya Mosque during the day tine”.
“So many tourists queuing up there. There’ re even tour guides there,” he quipped.
Even if KLCC, Batu Caves and Genting Highlands are deemed the golden triangle of Malaysia’s tourism, a Putrajaya resident and a Grab e-hailing driver vouched that busloads of Chinse tourists make up the bulk of foreign visitors to the Putrajaya Mosque.
Strict dress code, past phobia
This is when one events consultant highlighted that visit itinerary very much hinges on the tour guides.
“How many are Malays? I used to work in the hospitality industry whereby most of the tour guides who bring our foreign guests around are non-Malay. This isn’t me being racist; it’s just a fact,” he reasoned out.
Going deeper into why the Batu Caves temple is preferred over the Putrajaya Mosque from a practicality stand-pont, one non-Muslim Malaysian recounted the unfortunate incident of him being barred entry “because I’m not a Muslim”.
“I was dressed modestly, long pants and shirt and yet was denied entrance,” he revealed
“A tourist attraction in its name is a place that attracts tourists and they’re able to visit it and soak in the attraction. But a mosque is a place of worship, it’s not suitable as an attraction.”
Delving further, even though the Batu Caves temple is also a house of worship, “respectfully, unlike Islam’s place of worship, Hindu place of worship welcomes anyone as long as they’re dressed modestly”.
Editor’s Note: According to Putrajaya Tours, non-Muslim visitors can enter the Putra Mosque a.k.a. the Pink Mosque provided they visit outside of daily prayer times, notably Saturdays to Thursdays from 9am to 12.30pm, 2pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 6pm & Fridays from 3pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 6pm.
Robes are available for free at the entrance.
Another non-Muslim shared a somehow similar unpleasantness when he bumped into “a preacher at the courtyard preaching to a group of people while bringing a tourist to the Putrajaya Mosque”.
“He said anyone who is not a Muslim like me (pointing a finger at me as I walked past) will be burned eternally in hell. So why do I want to bring people there again?”
One commenter, too, recalled his past phobia while doing voluntary work in a mosque as an undergraduate in Melaka.
“One of the days saw us going to the mosque to give out free foods. And I was told by someone that as a kafir (infidel), I was not allowed to enter the mosque …” he stressed.
“That tells you a lot. Problem might not be coming from others but the natural exclusivity attribute of your religion, like you are either Muslim or kafir (najis). No hate, just saying what’s in my mind.”
Religious values aside, one netizen harped on the physical distance in that “Batu Caves is easy to get to by taking the commuter train but the pink mosque in Putrajaya requires taking the train plus a grab or bus”.
“There’s no walking distance station. Most tourists find the place they want to go to practical if it’s near a train station or metro. It’s easy to budget the timing and uncertainty of not being able to get a Grab or bus during peak season,” he justified. – Nov 3, 2026
