Zaid: Why Malays outraged over temple, not corruption?

Zaid: Why Malays outraged over temple, not corruption?

Published: Mar 27, 2025 1:17 PM
Updated: 4:21 PM


Summary

• Former minister Zaid Ibrahim says Malays should not be angry when the government gives compensation or land to non-Muslim places of worship.

• He adds that the government must represent all communities.

Zaid Ibrahim has questioned the intense outrage among Malays on social media regarding the temple-mosque issue while lamenting the lack of similar indignation towards corruption cases.

“If we displayed the same level of anger towards corruption and abuse of power - such as the ongoing corruption scandal in Sabah - we would have better leaders who could help the community and nation progress,” the former law minister told Malaysiakini.

In a Facebook post earlier, Zaid (above) expressed concern over the frustration among Muslims when the government grants concessions to non-Muslims, whether in the form of land for places of worship or financial assistance.

“Muslims have more than enough mosques and financial aid from the government to be satisfied. Yet, I see so much anger on social media over the recent temple issue in Kuala Lumpur,” he noted.

Elaborating, Zaid pointed out that non-Muslims are also taxpayers who contribute to the nation’s coffers and, therefore, deserve government assistance.

“They are citizens of Malaysia. The government does not serve only Malays and Muslims - it represents all Malaysians, upholding their interests as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

“So, I advise everyone not to be swayed by those who exploit this issue for personal gain. The preachers fanning the flames should also concentrate on what the religion dictates about good governance,” he added.

‘Give PM time’

On the broader issue of racial and religious tensions, Zaid argued that the root causes lie deep within the education system - both secular and religious.

While urging people to give Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim time, the former minister criticised the Madani government for failing to address the real causes of religious intolerance.

“They still listen to the bureaucrats in Jakim (Islamic Development Department) and the muftis' offices. They still ban books that promote a more open interpretation of Islamic teachings.

“Still, give Anwar time to steer the country towards a more moderate path.

“Hopefully, he will realise that banning discussions on 3R (race, religion, and royalty) does not help. We must speak honestly about the root causes of these problems,” he concluded.