Racial and Religious Issues: A Need for Proactivity
PETALING JAYA: A former deputy minister has backed a call for the government to speed up the legalisation of houses of worship following the recent controversy sparked over the relocation of a Hindu temple.
A Call for Proactivity
Ti Lian Ker, a former deputy minister of national unity, believes that there is a need to be proactive in addressing racial and religious issues. He notes that many temples had existed on government land before Merdeka but somehow the applications for land titles had "slipped through the administrative cracks". As such, he suggests that these temples should be automatically granted a license.
A Legalisation Programme
Ti was commenting on a suggestion by a PKR Youth committee member, P Nanthakumar, for a legalisation programme to register houses of worship with local councils to ensure they were not operating illegally. Nanthakumar’s proposal comes in the wake of the planned relocation of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple to make way for a mosque, which triggered public backlash and disputes over the legality of the temple.
Lessening Tensions
Ti believes that "temperatures could have been lowered" if the legality of the temple had been established from the onset. "It would be easier to manage sentiments and resolve the dispute if authorities are required to preserve, replace or recognise the existence or rights of a house of worship that’s been built on state or private lands pre-Merdeka days," he said. "Otherwise, the different communities would always be at loggerheads on whether these rights were being infringed or the rule of law being violated. And it would no doubt be politicised."
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that there is a need for the government to take proactive steps in addressing racial and religious issues. A legalisation programme for houses of worship would go a long way in ensuring that these institutions are able to operate legally and without fear of disruption. By taking proactive steps, the government can help to reduce tensions and promote greater understanding between different communities.
FAQs
Q: Why is there a need for a legalisation programme for houses of worship?
A: A legalisation programme is necessary to ensure that houses of worship are able to operate legally and without fear of disruption.
Q: What are the benefits of a legalisation programme?
A: A legalisation programme would help to reduce tensions and promote greater understanding between different communities, ensuring that houses of worship are able to operate without fear of disruption.
Q: How can the government ensure that houses of worship are able to operate legally?
A: The government can ensure that houses of worship are able to operate legally by requiring them to register with local councils and providing them with a license to operate.