PRESS STATEMENT – 18 March 2026
Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS), together with the National Hindu Temples Steering Committee (NHTSC), categorically rejects the recent meeting involving a select group of individuals purportedly representing Hindu interests in discussions on temple-related issues.
Let this be stated without ambiguity — this meeting has no mandate, no legitimacy, and no authority to speak on behalf of the Hindu community in Malaysia. The absence of the overwhelming majority of Hindu NGOs, temple committees, and national-level leadership, including MHS and NHTSC, renders any outcome from such a meeting fundamentally unrepresentative.
MHS represents a nationwide network of over 1,800 temples and more than 200 Hindu organisations, while NHTSC is the only structured platform currently working at a national level to address temple issues through legal, policy, and stakeholder engagement frameworks. Any attempt to sideline these institutions is not only irresponsible but undermines genuine efforts to resolve longstanding temple issues.
At a time when Hindu temples are facing eviction notices, relocation pressures, and enforcement actions, the community does not need symbolic dialogues — it demands clear political will, structured engagement, and decisive action.
We therefore pose the following direct questions to those involved and to the relevant authorities:
Will there be an immediate moratorium on all enforcement actions against Hindu temples pending the implementation of NHTSC’s structured national plan? Will all existing notices of eviction, relocation, and related actions be reviewed, suspended, or revoked in good faith? What binding assurances are being put in place to ensure that temples will not continue to be subjected to recurring threats and uncertainty?
Without firm commitments, any talk of “common ground” is premature, superficial, and ultimately meaningless.
Equally troubling is the attempt to normalise engagement without first addressing the deeply offensive environment that has been created. Hindu temples have been labelled as “illegal,” religious sensitivities have been disregarded, and provocative materials continue to circulate, openly humiliating the faith and its institutions.
Are we now expected to engage with those who have participated in — or remained silent on — such actions, without accountability, without retraction, and without respect?
The Hindu community will not be pressured into symbolic reconciliation at the expense of its dignity. To do so would be a betrayal of the temples, devotees, and generations that have preserved these institutions.
Let us be clear — the core issue is not dialogue. The core issue is the failure to resolve longstanding legal, historical, and policy deficiencies surrounding temple land status, recognition, and protection. Unless these are addressed decisively through a structured national framework such as that being undertaken by NHTSC, these issues will continue to be exploited, creating avoidable tension and risking broader public stability.
Malaysia Hindu Sangam and NHTSC stand firm:
We are ready to engage — but only through legitimate, inclusive, and structured platforms, with all key stakeholders present, and with clear political commitment to real solutions.
Anything less is not dialogue. It is deflection.
Thank you.
GANESAN THANGAVELLU AMN, ASA
President, Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS)
National Hindu Temple Steering Committee (NHTSC)
18.3.2026