The word ‘non-Muslim’ above is almost without a doubt superfluous, because whenever a house of worship in Malaysia gets bulldozed, smashed, demolished, or destroyed, you can safely bet the farm that the house of worship in question isn’t a mosque, surau or madrassah. This time it’s yet another Hindu temple that has been leveled, in a development that is part of a very long and time-honoured Islamic trend: when in doubt, destroy temples and churches. It’s also a development that will most likely go unnoticed and uncondemned by any Muslim inside Malaysia or anyone outside of Malaysia. The only noteworthy aspect of this latest temple demolition is that the Muslims are angrily blaming the non-Muslim political party DAP (Democratic Action Party) for ‘inciting religious hatred’. This is because DAP has dared in their public statements to actually hold the ruling Muslim-Malaysian party UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) responsible for the affair.
From “Hindu temple to be rebuilt on a new site”, by Athi Shankar, Free Malaysia Today, 28 May 2012:
GEORGE TOWN: Umno assemblyman Dr Hilmi Yahaya hit out at Chief
Minister Lim Guan Eng for propagating politics of hatred over the
demolition of a Hindu temple last month.
Teluk Bahang representative Hilmi said Lim has stirred the religious
sensitivities of Hindus by blaming Umno and Barisan Nasional for the
demolition.
He said Lim could have instead easily resolved the issue by engaging Penang port management, the Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).
“He attempted to create hatred among Hindus against Umno and BN when
we are the innocent parties,” said Hilmi, also the PPSB chairman.
The 40-year-old temple located just outside the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal (PBCT) was demolished in April.
PBCT general manager, Abdul Halim Abdul Kader apparently ordered the
demolition citing the temple posed danger because it was located next to
a chemical pipeline.
No points for guessing which is more important to many Muslims–a pipeline or a temple.
Hilmi maintained that PBCT management ordered the demolition with his knowledge.
However, Lim was quick to lay the blame on Umno and BN for the tearing down of the temple.
At the recent assembly sitting, Lim even warned that Hindu temples could be in danger if Umno was returned to power in Penang.
Now where would Minister Lim get such a crazy idea that Muslims are a threat to Hindu temples, or to Buddhist temples or Christian churches for that matter? Perhaps, as he is a non-Muslim living in a majority Muslim state, he must know what he’s talking about?
Irked by Lim’s comments, state opposition leader Azhar Ibrahim lodged
a police report against the DAP secretary-general over his comments.
Malay [Islamic] supremacist organisation Perkasa also conducted mock Hindu
funeral rites for Lim outside his residence, claiming that the chief
minister was inciting racial and religious hatred.
So, it’s not religious hatred to order the destruction of the temple, but it is ‘creating religious hatred’ to hold the Muslims responsible for it. You got that?
So far the promise contained in the headline of rebuilding what Muslims destroyed is just that– a promise that infidels would not take too seriously if they examined the ruling party Umno’s lengthy rap sheet against non-Muslims.