Najib should also apologize about "illegitimate" temples comment by DBKL

Very good that Najib has apologized - and this must also be followed with actions that will show that the apology is sincere. The speaker of those words must also apologize now... and Malaysia is waiting for it..

Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has apologised for the statement made by one of the party's division leaders which resulted in a lot of criticism from the Chinese community.

“We will apologise. Umno apologises,” he told a press conference after launching the Chery Eastar multi-purpose vehicle at a hotel here yesterday.

“It (The comment) was totally unwarranted and doesn’t reflect the position and attitude of Umno or the leadership of Umno. We regret it very much,” he said. - Star Online, 3/9/2008,Najib: Umno apologises

The Malaysian Hindus also are awaiting an apology from the PM, DPM, DBKL and the BN government for the "missing temples", which are now existing and have existed for many many years, in the KL Draft Plan 2020. To make it worse, DBKL calls these existing temples as "illegitimate"...

This treatment of Malaysian Hindus was, in my opinion, even more worse that the name calling of Malaysian of Chinese ancestry by an UMNO Division leader.

Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail had called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) at a ceramah prior to the Permatang Pauh by-election. - Star Online, 3/9/2008,Najib: Umno apologises

With regard the now existing temples and crematoriums in Kuala Lumpur, that is not there in the 2020 KL Draft Plan, a matter that was raised by Hindu Sangam - not even any of the MPs of KL.

HINDU temples and the crematorium in the Kuala Lumpur area had been left out in the draft of the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan by City Hall recently, according to Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A. Vaithilingam, the Malaysia Nanban said in a front page report.

He said that it was disheartening to note that the names of some temples in the Pudu area had been left out and nothing had been stated about the crematorium in Jalan Loke Yew.

He said that it was not proper for the authorities to remove the crematorium in the name of development.

He said the non-allocation of places for the Indian community to conduct religious rites for the dead reflected City Hall's insensitivity towards the Indian community.

He said that a meeting had been scheduled to be held on Tuesday at the Auditorium Tan Sri Soma in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the flaws and the recommendations to be made to City Hall. - Star, 18/8/2008 -Temples left out in draft plan

And the response that came from the DBKL was that it was left out because it was not legitimate , i.e. illegitimate...

How could the DBKL call temples that have existed for so long in Kuala Lumpur illegitimate, and this apparently also includes the Paranjothy Vinayagar temple in Jalan Ipoh and the Courthill Vinayagar Temple in Jalan Pudu. Are you also going further and say that the prayers, devotion and worship done was also "illegitimate"

There has been concern that over 100 Hindu temples and two crematoriums were not included in the draft plan.

The concerns were raised by the Malaysian Hindu Sangam which has asked temple representatives to submit their objections on the draft plan.

According to Vaithilingam, among the Hindu temples not included in the draft plan are the Paranjothy Vinayagar temple in Jalan Ipoh and the Courthill Vinayagar Temple in Jalan Pudu. - Star, 28/8/2008, Temples included in draft KL plan

Illegitimate Mosque....illegitimate church...illegitimate surau....how could the DBKL use the word Legitimate or "illegitimate" for Temples and places of worship of Malaysian people...

LEGITIMATE places of worship are definitely included in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.

According to Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) master plan department director Zainab Mohd Ghazali, if the places of worship are on legitimate sites with approval, then they will automatically be included in the plan.

“A place of worship, such as a temple, has to be on specific land area and it should not be on curbs or at the side of the road because our plan is based on lots,” she said.- Star, 28/8/2008, Temples included in draft KL plan

The DBKL, and in fact authorities elsewhere in Malaysia should now immediately "legitamize" all churches, temples, kuils, suraus, mosques, chapels where ever they are today - the authorities should be proactive.

And, if there are places of worship or religious sites (including cemetries, crematorium, other resting places, etc...) that has not been recognized as such yet by the 'government', then it must be done so immediately - and if there needs to be any 're-location', then it can only be done with the approval and consent of the persons using it.

How long it has been in that location, is of course, a very relevant consideration - and I believe that if it was in existence more than 10 years, it should not be anymore considered "illegitimate" or "illegal" anymore.

When you tell me that my place of worship...my religious site is "illigitimate" - you have insulted me, and rightly you should apologize...

Respect me... respect my religion... respect my belief... respect my places of worship - that is the Malaysian way.