KL Temple Relocation to Make Way for Mosque to Proceed After Heated Debate

Issue Has Galvanised Hindus; Critics See PM Anwar Being Stridently Pro-Malay Muslim

- Hazlin Hassan

A Hindu temple in Malaysia's capital will be relocated to a site just 50m away following a heated debate over its fate, as a new mosque will be built on its site. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is slated to lay the foundation stone for the mosque on March 27.

The Dewi Sri Pathra Kaliamman Temple is located in Jalan Masjid India, a popular shopping district in downtown Kuala Lumpur that grabbed headlines in August 2024 when an Indian tourist fell into a sinkhole. Her body was not found despite a nine-day search.

The temple issue has galvanised Hindus who want the modest 130-year-old house of worship to be retained, with rights groups raising questions about religious freedom, legal authority and cultural preservation.

On the other side of the debate are Muslims who want the new mosque built and others who argue that the temple was built illegally on public land. The land is currently owned by textile company Jakel Group.

The issue has taken on an anti-government tone, as critics of Datuk Seri Anwar see him as taking an increasingly strident pro-Malay Muslim stance. He has been trying to win over Malay voters, who largely avoided his Pakatan Harapan coalition in the November 2022 general election.