Govt urged to help remove ‘illegal temple’ label on Google Maps

FMT:

 

Govt urged to help remove

‘illegal temple’ label on

Google Maps

FMT Reporters

-30 Mar 2025, 07:32 AM

Urimai deputy chairman David Marshel says those responsible should be investigated.

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Urimai deputy chairman David Marshel said many of the temples have existed for more than 50 years, primarily in estates and suburban areas. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Urimai deputy chairman David Marshel has called on the government to work with Google to remove the “illegal temple” label which appears alongside Hindu temples searched on Google Maps.

Marshel also urged communications minister Fahmi Fadzil to investigate those responsible for this, saying it was disrespectful of the Hindu community.

“Many of these temples have existed for over 50 years, primarily in estates and suburban areas where Indian labourers have lived and contributed to the nation’s development.

“Labelling them illegal is disrespectful and discriminatory,” he said in a statement last night.

He warned that such labels risk sowing division and hatred in society.

A check by FMT on Waze, a Google subsidiary, also found the “illegal temple” label.

The issue comes two days after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission summoned the administrator of a Facebook group dedicated to finding allegedly illegal temples nationwide.

Land rights for old Hindu temples have become a controversial topic recently after the plan to relocate the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple to make way for the construction of Masjid Madani sparked a public backlash.

The issue was resolved when the government revealed that the 130-year-old temple had accepted a plot 50m away from its current site for relocation, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim calling it a “win-win solution”.