KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple near Jalan Masjid India has become the latest focal point in the ongoing debate over Hindu temple land disputes in Malaysia. As similar disputes continue to surface, concerns are growing over the future of these religious and cultural landmarks.
Many temples, often built decades or even centuries ago, face threats of demolition, forced relocation, or legal battles due to land ownership disputes and urban development.
Textile retailer Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, the landowner of the site in Masjid India, has assured that the temple will not be demolished and will remain open until a final decision is made regarding its relocation.
This case is one of many instances where Hindu temples have faced threats of demolition, forced relocation, or legal battles. Such disputes often stem from urban development projects, while in many cases, the temples were built on state land without proper authorisation.
In 2021, authorities identified 115 illegally built places of worship on government land in Kuala Lumpur. While eight cases were resolved by granting occupation offer letters, the remaining cases were offered relocation to designated non-Muslim houses of worship (RIBI) sites.
Of these, 56 temples were classified as needing urgent relocation due to upcoming development projects. The Federal Territories Ministry has since formed an RIBI Executive Committee to manage these issues, but challenges remain, including a lack of cooperation from landowners and temple management, as well as delays caused by inaccurate documentation.
Authorities have urged religious associations to obtain formal approval before establishing places of worship, highlighting the need for better planning to prevent future disputes.
The situation is even more pronounced in Kedah, where a 2020 report revealed that out of 523 Hindu temples, only 25 had been legally built on their own land.
With the latest controversy in mind, let’s take a look at past cases of major land disputes involving temples.
2018: Seafield temple riot
The Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25 became the site of a violent clash when devotees were attacked by masked individuals dressed in black and armed with knives, machetes, and sticks. The riot lasted for two days.
The assailants shouted provocative remarks, vandalised public property, and set several vehicles on fire.
One firefighter, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, lost his life, and more than 10 people sustained injuries.
2020: Hindu shrine in Alor Setar demolished
In July 2020, a century-old Hindu shrine in Alor Setar was torn down, sparking protests from its caretakers. The Sri Madurai Veeran shrine, situated under a tree opposite the Alor Setar railway station, was reduced to rubble.
The Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) justified the demolition, stating that the shrine had been built illegally and was obstructing traffic, leading to its eviction order.
Months after the demolition of two Hindu shrines, Kedah Menteri Besar Sanusi Md Nor defended the action, asserting that it was carried out in accordance with the law.
2024: 71-year-old temple in Kulim faces demolition for industrial park
The Kedah government ordered the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple committee to vacate its land to make way for an industrial park expansion. The temple chairman told Free Malaysia Today that the state government had claimed the temple was occupying state land illegally.
The Kedah government and the Kulim temple committee reached an agreement on the temple’s relocation.
Official responses and calls for restraint in latest controversy
Last week, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil urged all parties to allow the temple management and Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd to resolve the issue without political interference.
“This matter should be handled by the landowner and the temple management. They have had numerous discussions on this, particularly as it involves Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) regarding alternative land arrangements. Give them the space to continue discussions,” he said.
Fahmi also emphasised that the land is privately owned and has been gazetted under the KL2020 local plan since 2018. He warned against inflammatory remarks and reminded netizens that authorities, including the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), are monitoring the situation.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also urged all parties to refrain from exploiting the issue for political mileage, confirming that discussions are ongoing to find a resolution. – March 24, 2025