A 130-year-old Hindu temple in Malaysia’s capital is at risk of being demolished and relocated after its prime land in central Kuala Lumpur was sold to textile giant Jakel. The company plans to build a mosque on the site.

The temple, dedicated to the deity Dewi Sri Pathra Kaliamma Amma, has been a place of worship for generations.

Originally built on government land, the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple was later sold to Jakel in 2014. The company's late founder, Mohamed Jakel Ahmad, had purchased the land intending to construct the area's fourth mosque and donate it to the Muslim community. The proposed relocation of the temple to make way for the mosque has sparked public outrage, bringing renewed attention to longstanding concerns about religious equity in Malaysia, according to the South China Morning Post.

Concerns over the temple’s fate persisted without concrete resolution, as the demolition remained on hold for discussions. However, tensions escalated when news emerged that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new mosque was scheduled for Thursday, March 27, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim set to officiate the event.

Reports indicate that Jakel has been in talks with the temple committee since purchasing the land, offering to cover the costs of relocating the place of worship.

In 2021, the company obtained permission to build a mosque but postponed construction “out of respect” for the temple’s relocation process. Zaid Malek, executive director of Lawyers for Liberty, criticised the sudden urgency, pointing out that discussions between the temple, Jakel, and city hall were ongoing.

“Why is Anwar not prepared to give the necessary space and time for that process to be carried out? It is unacceptable that Anwar thinks it is appropriate for a temple to be removed so that a mosque can be built on its site,” Zaid stated.

Similar concerns are being widely discussed on social media, with many urging that the proposed mosque, reportedly named Masjid Madani after the Prime Minister’s “Malaysia Madani” slogan, be constructed differently to prevent unnecessary conflict. Last Friday, Prime Minister Anwar stated that the mosque would only be built after the temple was relocated.

“The temple is old, and its status has not been approved; it is not legal, but to ensure that our relationship is harmonious, [Jakel] has agreed to channel some assistance while [the city hall] has looked for a replacement land site, so that it does not become a problem,” the Prime Minister claimed that lawyers are taking advantage of the situation to portray it as a case of religious persecution falsely. “I cannot imagine myself as prime minister demolishing any temple,” Anwar expressed.

The issue dates back to British colonial rule in present-day Malaysia when Indians were brought in as labourers for the rubber industry and railways but were not given land ownership rights. In Selangor, which is home to over 700,000 Malaysian Indians, there are 773 temples, all reportedly constructed without official approval.

P Ramasamy, a leader of the ethnic Indian party Urimai and former deputy chief minister of Penang, emphasised that the temple is a “significant and religious landmark predating Malaysia’s independence. The removal of a long-established Hindu temple for any other purpose is unacceptable, particularly in a nation that prides itself on being multiracial and multireligious.”

Some Malay Muslims argue that since the land is now privately owned, the owner should have the right to proceed with the late Mohamed Jakel’s vision. They question the temple’s claim to remain on the site. Akmal Saleh, a prominent leader of the Malay nationalist party UMNO, criticised the temple management for not securing land ownership despite being there for decades.

Meanwhile, the temple committee has expressed its desire to stay at its current location, emphasising that it can coexist with any new development nearby. They stress the importance of upholding religious freedom and multicultural harmony.