Communal storm around Taoist-Hindu temple

Attracting both Hindus and Taoists, the Sri Mathurai Veeran Raja Karaimariamman Tuah Peh Kong temple in the Malay-majority Kampung Simpang Kerayong, Jasin, would have well been a 1Malaysia success story. Founded about 40 years ago, the temple sits on private land on the border of the Merlimau and Rim constituencies.A plan to put up a proper building to accommodate the large number of devotees who come to observe religious festivals has, however, been put on hold.

This is due to objections from the local Umno division and the village security and safety committee (JKKK), that claim to represent almost all of the Malay community."We first met with the penghulu (village head) who said it is not his role and that we should meet with the YB (assemblyperson),” said temple official and priest K Ganesan .

“The YB (Rim assemblyperson Mohd Yazed Khamis) said he supports our plans, but we have to get the approval of the JKKK and penghulu, so we've been going around in circles."A letter dated Dec 14, 2010, from Mohd Yazed, displayed on the temple wall, states that the assemblyperson has no objections to the expansion "granted that there are also no objections from JKKK Simpang Kerayong, Simpang Kerayong Umno and local residents".

Ganesan claimed that five families object to the expansion as they are "worried that a bigger temple will disturb the peace". "They worry that the sound of bells and the smell of incense will reach their houses," he said. Temple committee member N Visvanathan claimed that despite the JKKK and Umno's claim, only about five families have objected to the expansion, and those families live about 1.6km away. "I live just behind the temple and I don't hear or smell anything. The lorries (from the surrounding oil palm plantation) are more of a disturbance," he said.

Chief minister's backing

According to Visvanathan, BN component parties MIC and MCA are on their side. Representatives of the parties have visited them many times, and have even given cash donations to the temple, which has proudly raised several BN flags and an MIC flag. But no one has managed to broker a deal with the Umno branch to allow the expansion which Fauzi Muhammad (left), who runs a sundry shop across the road from the temple, believes is supported by "85 percent" of the multi-ethnic residents there.

"The bell that they worry about is not a constant. It is rung at specific times so it's not a nuisance. This is a matter of religion, so they must follow their own rules too... even in Islam we have the azan, which may disturb some people, but we must be mature and respect each others' customs," he said.

This is an argument that is not getting through to those villagers who object to expansion. Even Malacca Chief Minister and state Umno head Mohd Ali Rustam has been unable to convince them, although the state government has approved the expansion in principle.

"I have met with the JKKK, some approve (the expansion), some don't. I am in a difficult position. If I approve the temple, then Umno members people will say the chief minister supports Chinese and Indians and won't vote for BN. But if I don't, then DAP will attack me. "So I hope we can have more discussions and try to get to a solution,” Mohd Ali said at an event near the temple on Saturday.

"Umno and JKKK were angry with me when I converted the land to temple land but I said the temple has been there for 40 years so what's the problem? We have waited for 40 years, I am sure we can wait a little longer.”Temple head Ng Hong Wah said he welcomes the chief minister's hands-on approach on the issue and is happy that Mohd Ali has visited the temple and is willing to host a dialogue between the parties involved.

And although campaigning is in progress for the by-election, Ng and his committee members are unwilling to turn to the opposition to air their plight, as they do not want it to be politicised. Ng's concern is just to get the plan off the ground, as the temple committee has spent more than RM100,000 on preparations, including purchasing the land, installing the piping and covering the swamp land.

'Bell disturbs sleep'

According to Umno Simpang Kerayong division head Hasnol Abu Wahab, the state government and its agencies had, at a meeting with the division and the JKKK, agreed in principle to relocate the temple. "You know how these people are, they tie a red and yellow cloth somewhere and it becomes their deity. I don't think the temple has been there for 40 years... we have located a piece of land less than 1km from the (current site and), which is near another temple and is more appropriate," he said when contacted.

State exco member R Perumal, who is heavily involved in the negotiations, however, denied that the state has any intention to relocate the temple. This will not sit well with the JKKK. Kamaruzzaman Salleh, a member, lamented that the exco did not even consult the villagers before approving the expansion plan.

He said that just about all the Malay residents are against the temple because it is too close to their homes and only about 500m from the mosque. "We are not objecting to the existence of the temple and we respect their right to pray, but the location is unsuitable," he said.

There is also an issue of access, as there is only one road leading to the houses behind the temple. The villagers have complained about congestion whenever there are festivals, as the temple is popular with devotees outside Jasin as well. He said that residents, in a complaint letter to the JKKK, had said that the temple bell disturbs their children's sleep. This, however, has left the temple officials baffled. They only use a hand bell and said they always wait for the azan to finish before ringing the bell.

"When we pray, we ask for the safety of the whole kampung too," said Ganesan. About 50 non-Malay families live in Simpang Kerayong, some of whom will vote in the Merlimau by-election on Sunday, in the Jasin Lalang and Chinchin polling districts. PAS garnered about half of the votes in both polling districts in the 2008 general election.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/157311