Lembu punya susu, sapi punya nama

 

I FIND THIS quite amusing. No wonder there’s a Malay saying, "Lembu punya susu, sapi punya nama," which translates to: "The cow produces the milk, but the buffalo gets the credit."   

        As with many other cases, politicians are quick to claim victory when a problem is resolved—yet the real credit belongs to two women who worked tirelessly to find an amicable solution.  

        These two women had the full support of their boss, none other than PMX, who ironically gets blamed for everything that goes wrong in the country.  

A few actors, same drama script

        I have no issue with Saravanan announcing that the problem has been resolved. But wasn’t this Hindu temple issue lingering since 2012? Why was it only solved now? Saravanan should at least acknowledge the efforts of these two women who truly made it happen.

        At the same time, a very much laidback DAP President Gobind Singh Deo also felt the need to step forward and inform the Hindu community that his party had been involved in the matter for the past one and a half months. [Link: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrLw5jv6/]  

        If Saravanan couldn’t resolve the issue over the past few years under different governments, I wonder how Gobind managed to do it in just over a month—especially if the circumstances weren’t favourable.

        I have to say that I personally find him rather laid-back as a Member of Parliament in my own constituency, which has suffered under for several terms under former DAP parliamentarian, Tony Pua and now Gobind. 

        Meanwhile, after the resolution of the Hindu temple issue, figures like P. Ramasamy continued to criticise the government's handling of the matter, despite the fact that the solution was reached through amicable negotiations between all parties involved.

The Two Women

        

        The real credit for solving the Hindu temple issue should go to Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zaliha Mustafa and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Shariff. If not for their willingness—and the Prime Minister’s—to engage with the temple committee in good faith, a reasonable solution would not have been possible. I, for example, face little Napoleons in my own local council over some problematic humps and a two-way stretch of road that was turned into one-way street when it is supposed to ease traffic dispersal. 

        What I cannot understand is why it took so many years to reach a solution. After learning the following facts, it is clear that there was no valid reason for the problem to drag on. Obviously, it was exploited by certain parties hoping to turn the Hindu community against the Madani government—ironically, the same individuals who remained silent when their own people were in power.  

        This issue could have been resolved much earlier if not for political interference. Anyone familiar with the facts will see that it was nothing more than a political game:  

(a) The temple building itself was constructed in 2012, despite the land already having been sold to a new owner.

(b) The land was sold by DBKL when the Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing was Dato' Raja Nong Chik Bin Dato' Raja Zainal Abidin. 

(c) The only thing that we understand was 183 years old is the murti, not the temple itself.

        For most religious communities, it is never an issue for a murti or a statue to be relocated to a new home. In fact, when the government is initiating the relocation, it will also facilitate the process and provide the necessary land document. 

Crux of the Problem

        For most religious communities, relocating a murti or statue to a new home is rarely an issue. In fact, when the government initiates the relocation, it typically facilitates the process and provides the necessary land documentation.

        A key point highlighted in the TikTok post is Deputy Minister M. Kulasegaran’s call for an official body to be established to address issues faced by non-Muslim communities. This is particularly relevant given that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the right to profess and practice one's religion: 

“Every person is entitled to profess and practise his own religion and subject to Clause (4), develop their own religion”. 

        Since my teenage years, I have heard countless stories of harassment by authorities, even towards churches operating in rented homes. While it is understandable that such gatherings may inconvenience neighbours due to parking and noise concerns, the issue persists even after churches moved to shop lots or commercial buildings. They are then burdened with commercial electricity tariffs, despite relying largely on member donations—funds that also support charitable causes.

        Furthermore, once a property is converted to "religious" status, reverting it to "commercial" status upon resale becomes extremely difficult. That is one reason why I am told that some churches are unwilling to convert their commercial buildings to "religious" buildings. Applying for designated religious land is another big challenge, as different communities must compete with one another, leaving minorities—such as Hindus—at a disadvantage.  

        This issue, along with the lack of burial grounds, remains a major concern for non-Muslim communities in Malaysia.

Gobind, take note

        Gobind Singh Deo should turn his attention to another unresolved issue within his own constituency—one that was referred to him months ago. It appears that Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and State Exco Izham Hashim have yet to take meaningful action, despite the matter being raised last year.

        This situation reminds me of another case I have documented. A local councillor claimed to have resolved an issue, misleading those unaware of the full story into believing that he was responsible for the solution.

        Now, another district engineer has been instructed to write to St. Ignatius Church, informing them that the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) will revert to its original plan—one that would result in the loss of over 50 church parking spaces. I have advised the church to appeal directly to the Menteri Besar and the state exco, ensuring they cannot later claim ignorance of the issue.

        The church already faces severe parking shortages, having willingly surrendered part of its land years ago to facilitate the smooth construction of the Puchong-Damansara Highway (LDP).

        When this issue first emerged last year, Gobind delegated it to a junior state assemblywoman and her staff. Now that a new problem is surfacing, he must step in before it escalates into yet another controversy for the Madani government.

Solving Problems, Not Playing Politics

        No one should exploit such issues for political gain. As Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof once told me: “Politics aside, you and I just care about solving problems on the ground.”

        Similarly, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution has consistently said:

        “Saya cuma nak selesaikan masalah rakyat” (I just want to solve         the people's problems).

        More political leaders should adopt this approach as most of us will vote for parties that are out there to solve people's problems, not prolonging them. In this aspect, DAP, Gobind and his local councillor has failed where I am concerned, prolonging a small issue for so many years and unwilling to listen to some common sense. 

        The fact is, many of the stateless individuals Saifuddin has helped will never be able to vote for him—unless they happen to reside in his constituency. Yet, he continues to work tirelessly on their behalf.

        I sincerely hope Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim retains Saifuddin Nasution in his role. However, as a senator, he is limited to a three-year term, with the possibility of only one reappointment. His tenure as Home Minister may be short-lived (six years based on two terms of senatorship).

        To those living in his constituency, I urge you and all your friends to support him in the next general election. We do not know where he will be contesting but most probably in Penang. 

        I only began paying close attention to Saifuddin, after I saw many stateless people were granted citizenship. I can confidently vouch that he is the only Home Minister in the past 60 years who has shown the determination to solve this long-standing problem. 

        Unlike past ministers—whom you could write to a hundred times without receiving a single reply—Saifuddin Nasution is the man of the hour. His tenure now depends on his senatorship (a maximum of six years) and the Madani government in the coming general election. I don't mind losing Gobind as MP, but I won't want Saifuddin Nasution to be replaced at least while he is doing a good job for the rakyat.