• மலேசியா Penang Hindu Endowments Board Must Move Beyond Police Reports Amidst Temple Threats
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• ramani on 2026-03-06 16:15:13

News By Maahgeshan 

GEORGE TOWN, March 6, 2026 – The Chairman of Urimai and former Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang, P. Ramasamy, has called upon the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) to adopt a more proactive administrative stance in the face of rising threats against Hindu places of worship.

 

The statement comes in response to recent activities by a vigilante group, led by Muslim convert Zamri Vinoth, which has allegedly targeted "illegal" Hindu temples for demolition. Specifically, a call was reportedly made by the group to demolish a long-standing Hindu temple situated near the Bukit Mertajam Government Hospital on March 7.

 

Prof P.Ramasamy emphasized that the HEB, as a statutory body governed by the Hindu Endowments Board Ordinance 1906, possesses the enforcement powers necessary to acquire land and formalize temple status through the state government. He argued that the board must go beyond filing police reports and forensic audits, focusing instead on the systemic "legitimization" of shrines and temples across the state.

 

"The so-called illegality of these temples is often a byproduct of historical neglect, complex social circumstances, and political shifts,\" Ramasamy stated. "The HEB should establish a special task force to conduct a comprehensive survey identifying temples without legal status and the specific obstacles preventing their registration."

 

The former HEB Chairman P.Ramasamy reminded the current leadership that the board is primarily an administrative apparatus of both the state and federal governments, rather than a purely religious entity. He noted that during his tenure, several temples were successfully legalized or relocated to state-allocated land, such as the Sivan temple in Butterworth, which received a two-acre plot near the Perai River under the Pakatan Harapan administration.

The current situation has already prompted a police report from the present HEB Chairman and Member of Parliament, RSN Rayer. Additionally, the Minister and MP for Bukit Mertajam, Steven Sim, has urged authorities to crack down on vigilante actions that threaten to undermine inter-ethnic and inter-religious harmony in Malaysia.

 

Despite over 800 police reports previously lodged against the leader of the vigilante group for allegedly insulting Hindu rituals, Ramasamy expressed concern over a perceived lack of enforcement, suggesting that such individuals appear to act with a sense of impunity.

 

In his concluding remarks, Ramasamy urged the HEB to set a national example by streamlining temple administration from a legal perspective. He asserted that the Hindu public expects the board to prioritize the security of land tenure and proper registration over ceremonial involvement, ensuring that temples are protected under the ambit of the law rather than remaining vulnerable to external threats.

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