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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright February 2024
The disproportionate number of Hindu temples in Malaysia compared to mosques has raised concerns, particularly in light of the small Indian population of 1.5 million who are also not all Hindus.
Muafakat Nasional's Deputy President, Prof Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, highlighted the disparity, noting that the country has around 300,000 Hindu temples, while there are only about 33,000 surau and mosques.
“There are approximately 33,000 surau and mosques all over the country. This means that the number of Hindu temples is 10 times more (than surau and mosques put together)" Ridhuan said.
On the other hand, as of 2020, there were approximately 20.6 million Muslim adherents, or 63.5% of the population. In 2023, a Pew Research Center report gave a higher share of 75% of Malaysia's adults self-identifying as Muslim.
This stark contrast raises questions about perception on the allocation of resources and land use.
One of the key issues highlighted is that many Hindu temples are situated on government land, which raises concerns about the legality and fairness of their establishment.
Meanwhile, Ridhuan commented on the proliferation of Hindu temples in Selangor saying, “If not monitored, the state of Selangor will become ‘Darul Kuil’ and no longer ‘Darul Ehsan’ anymore.”
While freedom of religion is a fundamental right, the excessive number of Hindu temples compared to mosques might suggest a disparity in the treatment of different religious communities. It is essential to ensure that all religious groups are treated equally and have fair access to places of worship.
Addressing this issue requires a balanced approach that respects the rights of all communities while ensuring that land use and resources are allocated fairly and in accordance with the needs of the population.
Dialogue and cooperation between religious communities, government authorities, and civil society can help find solutions that promote harmony and inclusivity in Malaysia.
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