Section 23 residents have yet to clear the air with the Hindu religious umbrella body Malaysia Hindu Sangam over the controversial 'cow head' protest staged in Shah Alam last week, according to its president.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, S Mohan revealed today that "not even the residents or the home minister (Hishammuddin Hussein) have come and met them like they claimed yesterday".


"And I have checked with all of my staff, whether any of them was contacted by the residents or the minister, but no one has. I don't know why they have used our name," he added.

However, he said, he is "very keen" to meet the residents and would welcome a discussion with them on the matter that has sparked major uproar especially among the Hindu community nationwide.

"I am willing to meet anybody to resolve the matter amicably... I don't want any problem with anyone but other people must consider our sentiment. We still need a temple for worship," Mohan said.

He also said that he will have a private meeting with Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim tomorrow to express his views on the matter.

Recently, Section 23 residents had mounted the protest against the proposed relocation of 150-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu temple from Section 19 to their neighbourhood.

It was Hindu Sevai Sangam


However the confusion over which Hindu-based group had met with the residents was clarified when VK Regu of the Malaysia Sevai Sangam told Malaysiakini that it was his group which had the meeting.

He said his movement had met the protesting residents on the day after the protest to hold a dialogue.


"We had a fruitful meeting and we explained to them how our feelings were hurt by their actions. We also told them why cows are considered sacred to us," he said, adding that his movement plans to hold more meetings with the residents in the near future.

He said that the meeting was done on their own initiate and that they had no connections with the Malaysia Hindu Sangam.

"It was us whom Hishammuddin was talking about. I also spoke to the minister and he knows our stand on the matter. He said he will help solve the problem," added Regu.

Hishammuddin has 'abused' his power

In a related development, menteri besar's political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad accused the home minister of abusing his power for meeting up with the residents who were purportedly involved in the 'cow head' protest.

"It is a big question mark when a minister meets up with the residents who are being investigated for being (allegedly) involved in the cow-head protest last week," said Nik Nazmi in a statement.


Although the investigation is still underway, he said, the minister has chosen to "defend the protesters, saying that the situation got out of control and that they have no intention to cause racial (divisions)".

"It is now obvious Hishammuddin tried to give political asylum to this group by abusing his power as a home minister who is in charge of the police force," said Nik Nazmi.

In a separate statement, Malaysian Bar president K Ragunath expressed its disappointment that the home minister had "trivialised" the gravity of the incident by "not denouncing the offensive actions of some of the demonstrators and instead accepted their weak explanation".

He added that Muslim-majority area should not be the factor in building a place of worship for any faith as " (we live in a) uniquely multi-ethnic and multi-faith society".

On the same note, the Bar also believes that although individuals can be allowed to exercise their rights to assemble peacefully, it does not mean they can "disrespect, insult or incite intolerance towards others and their beliefs.

"We regret that a small group of individuals engaged in an act that, in the public perception, was deliberately calculated to inflame sentiments, offend and show contempt, and we commend all those who have spoken up to criticise that behaviour," said Ragunath.

In a related development, Indian-based organisation Hindu Defence Forum (Hindform) urged the federal government and the Selangor government to sort out the issue urgently.

Stating that the protest had "deeply disturbed and frustrated" the Hindu community, Hindform said the police too must take immediate action against the protesters.

"It is out constitutional right to build temples and practice our faith. The Section 19 temple has been around for more than 120 years," said the movement's deputy head A Rajaratnam. He is also the Malaysian Indian Youth Council president.

Residents: They were Umno members

Met by press today, some Section 23 residents claimed that five of the protesters came from the same neighbourhood and "they are all Umno members".

A resident who requested anonymity claimed that the person who was holding the cow's head throughout the protest was Azmir Md Zain, an Umno patron for Section 23.

"Besides him, I can recognise that the other four as also Umno members, including the organiser Mahyuddin Manaf," said the resident.


Meanwhile, Section 23 Hindu committee pro-tem president K Rajah has also rejected Hishammuddin's statement yesterday that some Hindu residents were against the proposed temple plan.

"We have collected over a hundred signatures in a petition to support the temple being relocated here and not one is against the idea," he said.

He also claimed that neither his committee nor any Indian resident was consulted by the Section 23 action committee led by Mahyuddin.

Also, a visit by Malaysiakini to the Section 23 residential area today indicated that the proposed temple site is located at the junction of Persiaran Jubli Perak and Persiaran Perusahaan, facing an industrial lot.

Separated by a playground, a TNB generator and a multi-purpose hall, the temple is about 400 metres away from the nearest houses, mostly occupied by Indians and Chinese.