Hinduism in Malaysia
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Approximately nine percent of the population of Malaysia are Tamil Indians, of whom close to 95 % are practicing Hindus.
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[edit] History
Hinduism was prevalent in Malaysia prior to the arrival of Islam in the 15th century. Traces of Hindu influence remain in the Malay language, literature and art.
Indian settlers came to Malaysia from Tamil Nadu in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these came to work as labourers on rubber plantations, while those who were English-educated occupied more professional positions. A minority of Indian immigrants to Malaysia during this time period came from Northern India and Sri Lanka.
[edit] Culture
Malaysian Hinduism is diverse, with large urban temples dedicated to specific deities, and smaller temples located on estates. The estate temples generally follow the tradition of the Indian region from which the temples' worshippers originate. Many people follow the Shaivite, or Saivite, tradition (worship of Shiva), of Southern India.
Shaivism is a devotionalist grace-based concept and emphasises love for the deity, rather than fear.
Folk Hinduism is the most prevalent variety, including spiritualism and worship of local gods.
Since the Second World War a revival of Hinduism has occurred among Indian Malaysians, with the foundation of organisations and councils to bring unity or to promote reform.
[edit] Persecution
- See also: HINDRAF and 2007 HINDRAF rally
Between April to May 2006, several Hindu temples were demolished by city hall authorities in the country. On April 21, 2006, the centuries old Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur was reduced to rubble after the city government sent in bulldozers obstensibly because of a violation of construction laws [1].
The president of the Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam in Selangor State has been helping to organize efforts to stop the local authorities in the Muslim dominated city of Shah Alam from demolishing a 17-year-old Hindu temple. The growing Islamic conservatism in Malaysia concerns many Malaysians who follow minority religions such as Hinduism.
Many Hindu advocacy groups have protested what they allege is a systemic plan of Temple cleansing in Malaysia. The official reason given by the Malaysian government has been that the temples were built "illegally." However, several of the temples were centuries old [2] and predated many mosques which do not receive the same treatment.
On May 11, 2006, armed city hall officers from Kuala Lumpur forcefully demolished part of a 90-year-old suburban temple that serves more than 3,000 Hindus. The "Hindu Rights Action Force," or HINDRAF a coalition of several NGO's, have protested these demolitions by lodging complaints to the Malaysian Prime Minister [3]. Their chairman, Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy, said:
“These state atrocities are committed against the most underprivileged and powerless sector of the Hindu society in Malaysia. We appeal that this Hindu temple and all other Hindu temples in Malaysia are not indiscriminately and unlawfully demolished,”[4].
In 2007, Malaysian Hindu organizations protested the destruction of Hindu temples by the Malaysian regime. On October 30, 2007 the 100-year-old Maha Mariamman Temple in Padang Jawa was demolished by Malaysian authorities. Following that demolition, Works Minister and head of the Malaysian Indian Congress Samy Vellu, who is of Indian origin, said that Hindu temples built on government land were still being demolished despite his appeals to the various state chief ministers.
Such temple destructions in Malaysia have been reported by the Hindu American Foundation.[1]
HAF notes that the Government of Malaysia Restricts Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association contrary to Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and Article 10 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution, and that the application filed by Malay Hindus to hold gatherings have been arbitrarily denied by the police. The Government has also tried to suppress a campaign launched by an NGO, the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) to obtain 100,000 signatures in support of a civil suit against the Government of United Kingdom.[1] HINDRAF has accused the Malaysian government of intimidating and instilling fear in the Indian community.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b HAF Condemns Continuing Destruction of Hindu Temples in Malaysia, Calls for Support to Protesting Malay Hindus, HAF report
- ^ HINDRAF home
[edit] See also
- List of Hindu temples all over the world
- HINDRAF - Hindu human rights Action Force.
[edit] External links
- Malaysia's clash of cultures
- dbkl-smashed-statues-of-hindu-gods blog
- 100-yr-old Hindu temple razed in KL
- Video of Hindu temple demolition in Malaysia
- New religious dispute sparks fears of rising Islamization in Malaysia
- Malaysia 'convert' claims cruelty
- Malaysia Hindu activists arrested
- Malaysia Hindu activists released
- Scores charged over Hindu rally
- Malaysia court rejects Hindu bid
- Detentions over Malaysian Hindu rally
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