THE Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) and the National Hindu Temples Steering Committee (NHTSC) have strongly condemned a recent meeting involving a select group of individuals claiming to represent Hindu interests in discussions on temple matters, insisting that it holds no mandate or authority to speak for the community.
In a joint statement, MHS and NHTSC emphasised that the gathering was fundamentally unrepresentative due to the absence of the majority of Hindu non-governmental organisations, temple committees, and national leadership, including the MHS and NHTSC themselves.
“Let this be stated without ambiguity — this meeting has no mandate, no legitimacy, and no authority to speak on behalf of the Hindu community in Malaysia,” MHS President Ganesan Thangavellu said.
The organisations, which collectively represent over 1,800 temples and more than 200 Hindu bodies nationwide, warned that
“At a time when Hindu temples are facing eviction notices, relocation pressures, and enforcement actions, the community does not need symbolic dialogues — it demands clear political will, structured engagement, and decisive action,” said the statement.
MHS and NHTSC raised urgent questions for authorities regarding the protection of Hindu temples, including whether there would be an immediate moratorium on enforcement actions and whether existing eviction or relocation notices would be reviewed or suspended in good faith.
They further demanded binding assurances that temples would no longer face recurring threats or uncertainty.
The organisations also criticised attempts to normalise engagement without addressing what they described as a deeply offensive environment.
They highlighted that temples have been labelled “illegal,” religious sensitivities disregarded, and provocative materials circulated that humiliate the faith and its institutions.
“Are we now expected to engage with those who have participated in — or remained silent on — such actions, without accountability, without retraction, and without respect?” the statement asked.
The core issue, they emphasised, is not dialogue itself but the failure to resolve longstanding legal, historical, and policy deficiencies surrounding temple land status, recognition, and protection. MHS and NHTSC called for a structured national framework to address these matters decisively.
“Malaysia Hindu Sangam and NHTSC stand firm: We are ready to engage — but only through legitimate, inclusive, and structured platforms, with all key stakeholders present, and with clear political commitment to real solutions. Anything less is not dialogue. It is deflection,” Ganesan said. - March 19, 2026
