LETTER | We, the Malaysian Coalition of Hindu NGOs and Temples, would like to put forward the below-mentioned six demands to be incorporated as your election promise for the coming 15th general election (GE15) which is for a better and meaningful New Malaysia and betterment of the Malaysian Hindu community in particular and Indians at large.

1. Hindu affairs department

Current situation: Unlike all the major religions in the country, there is no single authorised body to govern and guide the Hindu religious aspects properly and systematically.

A national Hindu Advisory Board consisting of experts on all Hindu Religious aspects should be established to assist and guide the Hindu Affairs Department.

Through this authorised Hindu Advisory Board, the Hindu community will be guided on issues related to all rituals, festivals, practices, and any other conflict of opinion which will pave the way to bring about harmonious living among all religions in the country.

This Hindu Affairs Department (HAD) should be

• An independent and apolitical body governed under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to be established to take care of all Hindu affairs and should be gazetted in Parliament.

• HAD to act as an authority to facilitate support in terms of finance and good governance of Hindu institutions.

• HAD shall be answerable to the PMO and Parliament.

2. Hindu enactment

Current situation: There is no legislation to elaborate and uphold the rights of the Hindus as enshrined in Article 11 of the Federal Constitution and the United Nations Minorities Declaration.

An enactment should be made through the Parliament with the guidance of the Hindu Advisory Board and adopted by HAD to safeguard the rights of the Hindus who are a lean minority in this country.

• This enactment should ensure Article 11 of the Federal Constitution is upheld in full without being violated, whereby full freedom of worship is assured without any hindrances whatsoever.

• This enactment should also fulfil the United Nation’s Minorities Declaration as adopted by consensus on March 30, 1992, which spells out the “promotion and protection of the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities.”

• This enactment should ensure no violations of civil, political, economic, social, or cultural rights on basis of discrimination on grounds of race, colour, descent, ethnic origin, or such other status as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

3. Issues around temples

Current situation: Hindu temples are built and consecrated in accordance with Agama Sastras (Hindu laws on temple building) and the main deity is the person under whose name the temple is registered together with all other deities that are consecrated and encompassed within.

This establishment is unique to Hindu temples which are not just four-walled buildings but Dharmic places of worship, not being practised or understood by Abrahamic religions but are expected to be designed and demonstrated in comparison to the other religions prevalent in the country.

Hindus, especially the Tamil community, are well known as a temple-building community. As such, a proper systematic arrangement should be developed to cater to the needs of the community and to streamline unnecessary disputes that have been ongoing issues.

• To register all Hindu temples under a registry - Registrar of Temples (ROT) to be established with statutory rules and regulations governed by HAD with a uniformed Constitution and not by ROS or ROC. This authorised body should register all temples and ensure the legalities of obtaining land titles of temples and also to be gazetted.

• Establishing guidelines and rules for temples in accordance with the Hindu Sastras.

• Provide funding for institutions, infrastructure, human resources, and operational costs, and also allocate adequate funds to construct, renovate, and for maintenance of temples.

• Ensure temples are equipped with sufficient traditional employees like properly trained priests and musicians and preachers. If necessary to be brought in from India.

• Mediating issues related to the demolition and relocation of Hindu temples upon getting clearance from the religious advisory board and ensuring the proper relocation process of temples is followed considering upcoming developments.

• Gazetting of qualified temples as heritage sites under the National Heritage Act 2005 without hindrance to routine worship by way of rituals and ceremonies.

• Allocation of land accordingly to establish and maintain Hindu crematoriums and burial grounds.

4. Hindu religious education

Current situation: Hindus have been continuously requesting the government to allow Hindu religious classes to be conducted within the school timetable period. Currently, some of the classes are conducted during the extra-curricular activities period only.

Hindu religious education should be included in the national education curriculum for Hindu students in primary and secondary schools as a compulsory subject.

The national philosophy of education stresses that every student is required to be intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically balanced and harmonious based on a firm belief in and devotion to God as spelt out in the Rukun Negara.

• As an initial move, Hindu religious subjects are to be taught with immediate effect in all SJK Tamil schools substituting the moral education subject.

• Replace the present “Moral education” subject in SK and SMK with Hindu religious education, which is equipped with more than all the moral values required.

• To establish a Department for Hindu Studies to be included in Higher Education Institutes in the country.

5. Religious conversion

Current situation: Absent of an official platform or means to mediate or counsel the Hindu who is about to convert. There are thousands who are identified as non-Hindus due to technical defects as inscribed in their IC without their intention.

Establishment of a unit under the HAD to mediate with Hindus who intend to convert to other religions and identify those who are affected due to technical reasons.

• To set up a counselling unit under HAD for Hindus who intend to convert.

• Ensure that the person who professed the Hindu religion has worthy reasons and is not being lured by promising incentives or is forced to his/her conversion.

• The function of the unit is to ensure the person who professes Hindu religion has fulfilled all the responsibilities and settlements before they convert to another religion.

6. Socio-economic and academic education

Current situation: The Hindu/Indian community at large is entangled with umpteen socio-economic and academic education issues. This has oppressed the development of the community on par with the other ethnicities in the country which has paved way for involvement in social problems which has become a menace to both the community and the nation as a whole.

The problems have to be identified and precautions taken to address and curb such situations. Measures to cater to the basic needs of the individuals and community as a whole are the dire need of the hour.

Stateless Malaysian Indians

I. Estimated more than 25,000 people of Indian origin are stateless in Malaysia (Malaysian Indian Blueprint 2017).

II. The authorities should at least issue permanent residentship and after a reasonable period should convert it to citizenship.

III. The purported stateless children and children of permanent residents should be enrolled in schools without restrictions. These children should not be deprived of education.

IV. The new government is to advise the Ministry of Home Affairs to work closely with NGOs and voluntary movements to identify and facilitate approval of citizenship to those who have resided for a reasonable period and to waive stringent restrictions.

Malaysian education system

I. Revamp and revive a system that cares for and serves all Malaysian children without any fear, favour or discrimination.

II. Award students based on pro-rata and achievements both in academics and sports.

III. Empower public institutions as affordable places for studies.

IV. Education is a service to mankind, not a business.

Economic empowerment

I. Intake of new jobs, opportunities and placement for Malaysian Indians to hit 10 percent in government sectors and GLCs nationwide by end of 2025.

II. Increase in wealth and asset ownership – especially in house ownership of Indians in the B40 category.

III. Tangible support and empowerment of youth in small and medium-scale businesses to curb school dropouts and involvement in gang/crime activities.

IV. Significant increase in equity and economic share of Malaysian Indians.

Hindu religious programmes on state-owned radio and TV

I. To ensure Hindu religious programmes are included in state-owned radio and television.

II. Prohibit programmes that condemn the Hindu religion and culture

National registration department, govt forms, Home Ministry

I. To ensure that the word ‘Hindu’ is stated in the identity cards and birth certificates of Hindus.

II. To prohibit and act without bias against scholars of other religions who humiliate and ridicule the Hindu religion and cause destruction to the harmony of our country.

III. To replace the word ‘Bukan Islam’ in all official government forms with other respective religions in the country.

Regulation of liquor licence by Customs Dept

I. To ban all licenses for cheap liquor.

II. To prohibit the sale of 150ml bottles of liquor in the market to be on par with the amendment to a provision in the Food Regulation Act 1985 gazetted on May 27, 2016.

Unavoidable entreaty

I. Implement and enforce the Malaysian Indian Blueprint

We, representing various NGOs in the Coalition of Hindu NGOs and Temples, hope all the above-mentioned matters will be taken into consideration and implemented for the betterment of the community. Thank you.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.