Saravanan begs Hindus to ignore 'more Malay than Malays' preachers

Saravanan begs Hindus to ignore 'more Malay than Malays' preachers

Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
Published: Apr 12, 2025 12:52 PM
Updated: 3:34 PM


Summary

• MIC deputy president M Saravanan calls on Hindus in the country to ignore controversial preachers Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong.

• He claims the individuals were only trying to be more Malay than the Malays, while the real Malays are being tolerant.

• Saravanan says they suspect there is a mastermind behind recent controversies surrounding Hindu temples.

MIC today urged the Hindu community to ignore certain figures who have been provoking issues regarding the legality of Hindu temples in the country.

Its deputy president M Saravanan claimed individuals like controversial preachers Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong were trying to prove that they are "more Malay than the Malays".

"We know the Malays and Muslims are tolerant in this country. Those who are making noises now like Zamri Vinoth and Firdaus Wong... Thus, I am asking the Indian community to ignore them.

"Let them say what they want. Let the government and the Prime Minister's Office take the appropriate actions.

"This is their job. They are trying to prove that they are more Malay than the Malays. We don't see the Malays doing what they are doing because the Malays are already living in harmony," he told reporters after accompanying BN candidate Yusri Bakir to the Ayer Kuning by-election nomination centre in Perak this morning.

The Tapah MP was responding to a question about a Hindu temple being built on vacant land beside MIC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Muslim groups had recently protested the presence of the temple, which they said is situated close to a surau operated by an Islamic NGO called Malaysian Islamic Welfare Organisation (Perkim).

Provocateurs

Saravanan said the Indians had been living with other races in harmony since before Malaysia reached its independence, and questioned why Hindu temples suddenly became an issue in the country.

Controversial preachers Zamri Vinoth (left) and Firdaus Wong


According to him, the Indian community now suspect that the recent controversies had been masterminded by certain quarters.

"The Indians or any other race have never had any problem with the Muslims or the Malays. Do not entertain people like Firdaus and Zamri, 'biar mereka menyalak' (let them bark).

"I beg the Indian community not to entertain Zamri any more.

"We can see that this only became an issue recently. Why was such an issue never raised over the years? So the Indian community suspects that there is a mastermind behind this. We will know who that is when the time comes," Saravanan said.

Clearing the air

About the temple near the Perkim premises, Saravanan denied that they were building a new house of worship.

Instead, he stressed, the temple was being housed at the site temporarily while they prepared another land for its relocation.

Saravanan also criticised Firdaus for making an issue out of the temple.

"If Firdaus Wong is sincere, he could have met MIC to ask for an explanation.

"But instead they staged a protest and claimed that it (temple) was a provocation.

"We shouldn't entertain this. We know the Malays and Muslims are educated," he said.

Stop-work order issued

In a statement, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it has issued a stop work order on the construction of the temporary temple.

According to the authority, a discussion with the land owner on April 7 revealed that the structure was only for temporary and personal use pending the construction of a commercial complex on the plot.

"The temporary structure is meant for the owner's personal use and not for the public.

"The owner has also given an assurance that the temporary structure will be relocated and they will follow all DBKL rules," the statement said.