Anwar slams politicisation of temple relocation, balloon vendor scuffle

Anwar slams politicisation of temple relocation, balloon vendor scuffle

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today hit out at those politicising the impending relocation of a Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur as well as the recent scuffle between enforcement officers and a balloon vendor in the capital city.

He said some were pushing a narrative that riots would break out over the controversy sparked by the plan to relocate the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple.

He added that social media users could sometimes make a mountain out of a molehill by sensationalising issues that could instead be resolved in an amicable manner.

“Do not give these people any room (to sensationalise such issues).

“They are stupid and do not think about the interests of the public. They just want to politicise such matters,” he said at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister’s Department here.

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Anwar also said that such groups would have no qualms about labelling others as infidels or hypocrites if they were in disagreement.

The plan to relocate the 130-year-old temple off Jalan Masjid India to make way for a mosque to be built by Jakel Group was met with a public backlash last month.

The temple committee eventually agreed to have the temple moved 50m away to a new site measuring 4,000 sq ft, matching its current size.

Anwar, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Madani Mosque on March 27, said then that the relocation was a win-win solution, thanks to compromises made by all parties involved.

Balloon vendor Za’imuddin Azlan meanwhile was involved in a scuffle with enforcement officers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on March 28.

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Za’imuddin, who did not possess a licence, was pinned to the ground in the incident which was captured on video and quickly went viral.

DBKL claimed that Za’imuddin refused to comply with instructions and had acted aggressively despite three warnings, to the extent of pushing one of the officers.

Za’imuddin however denied that he was warned three times before the altercation with the officers.

Three DBKL enforcement officers involved in the incident were later suspended from duty.