Historic Hindu temple in Malaysia faces demolition as government approves mosque construction
Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
20 March, 2025
Case Summary
In Malaysia, the government decided to demolish the 130-year-old Devi Sri Patharakaliamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur and replace it with a mosque. The temple, situated in a culturally significant location amidst residential flats and textile shops, held deep spiritual and historical importance for the local Hindu community. Many Hindus strongly opposed the decision, viewing it as a symbolic displacement of their religious heritage. They argued that the move undermined their rights and traditions, with local Hindu leaders condemning it as an attack on their community's identity and an infringement on religious freedom. Critics also pointed out that the government failed to consult adequately with the Hindu population before proceeding with the demolition. The decision triggered broader concerns about religious harmony in Malaysia, a nation already grappling with interfaith divisions. While some radical Muslim groups celebrated the mosque's construction as a triumph for Islam and a symbol of religious unity, the Hindu community expressed outrage, fearing that their places of worship were being systematically marginalised. The situation remained tense, with the potential for escalating religious unrest if the concerns of the affected community were not addressed. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who laid the foundation stone for the mosque, emphasised the importance of religious harmony and national unity. He reassured the public that the government remained committed to ensuring peaceful coexistence among all religious communities in Malaysia. However, his statements failed to pacify critics, many of whom believed that this decision would deepen existing religious divides. As tensions rose, there was an increasing call for dialogue and mutual understanding between Malaysia's diverse religious communities. The situation remained unresolved, with continued protests and growing demands for the government to reconsider its actions.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the first sub-category selected is- Encroachment or illicit takeover of Temple property/land. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. The second sub-category selected under the above-mentioned category is- Attack on Temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The second category selected here is- Restriction/ban on Hindu practices, and within this, the sub-category selected is- Administration restricting religious practice. In several cases, it is seen that the administration/state disallows a religious practice owing to prejudicial orders and concerns, targeted specifically against the Hindu community. Such restriction/prohibition would be considered documented as a hate crime because the orders are often a result of pressure by groups that harbour animosity towards Hinduism and Hindus. Often, the restriction by the authorities is driven by bias, hostility, or prejudice against the specific community being stopped from holding a religious practice, by pressure groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus, intrinsic to their faith. Since practices are intrinsic to the faith of the Hindus, such prejudicial restriction is considered a curtailing of the fundamental rights of the Hindu community. In several cases, for example, the authorities ban a Hindu religious practice due to pressure from groups opposed to the religion. In other instances the prohibition is selectively enforced against one religious group (Hindus) while others are allowed to proceed. There are still other cases where the authorities preemptively restrict a religious practice by Hindus because those who hold animosity towards Hindus may get “provoked” leading to them being violent, thereby assuaging the sentiments of those who hold animosity towards Hindus by curtailing the religious rights of Hindus. Such acts and orders are prejudiced, indicating discriminatory motives owing to the capitulation to groups that harbour animosity towards Hindus and therefore, would be categorized as a religiously motivated hate crime since the original pressure leading to the order itself is a result of hatred/bias/prejudice/religious hate against Hindus. The demolition of the 130-year-old Devi Sri Patharakaliamman Temple and its replacement with a mosque constitutes a direct attack on Hindu religious identity, as temples are not merely places of worship but sacred spaces believed to house divine energy. The arbitrary decision to remove the temple without proper consultation with the Hindu community highlights systemic religious discrimination and disregard for their faith. The act aligns with a broader pattern of temple encroachments and illicit takeovers, where Hindu sacred sites are either destroyed or repurposed by non-Hindu groups, leading to religious displacement. Such an action is not only a violation of religious freedom but also an affront to the spiritual and cultural heritage of Hindus, thereby classifying it as a religiously motivated hate crime. Moreover, by allowing the construction of a mosque in the place of a sacred Hindu temple, the Malaysian administration not only displaced a Hindu religious institution but also sent a message of institutional bias, prioritising the Muslim community's religious expansion over Hindus’ fundamental right to worship. This incident aligns with the broader anti-Hindu agenda of the Malaysian government, which has faced increasing accusations of religious persecution against Hindus. Over the years, there have been numerous reports of Hindu temples being demolished across Malaysia, often under the pretext of urban development or land disputes, despite many of these temples having been built on private property and existing long before Malaysia's independence. These actions expose a pattern of systemic discrimination, where Hindu religious sites are frequently targeted, while places of worship belonging to other communities face no such threats. Additionally, Malaysian state governments and Sharia courts have played an active role in restricting Hindu religious freedoms. There have been cases where Sharia courts have intervened in matters affecting non-Muslims, particularly in cases involving forced religious conversions, child custody disputes, and the rights of Hindu families. Despite Malaysia's claims of being a multi-religious nation, Hindus often find their religious rights curtailed, with authorities either ignoring or enabling such violations. The demolition of Hindu temples is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend where Hindu religious practices are systematically undermined. This latest decision to replace a historic Hindu temple with a mosque, despite the site’s deep cultural and religious significance to Hindus, reflects the government's unwillingness to protect Hindu heritage and its complicity in advancing an exclusivist religious agenda. By continuing to erase Hindu religious spaces, the Malaysian government is fostering a climate of religious intolerance, where the Hindu minority is left with diminishing rights and representation. This reinforces the perception that Hindus in Malaysia are being deliberately marginalised, with state policies increasingly favouring the dominant religious group- Muslims, while restricting Hindu practices and places of worship. Such arbitrary actions taken against Hindus are prejudicial to the rights of Hindus and stem from animosity and prejudice against Hindu beliefs, which is why this case is being categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
N/A
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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