Kuala Lumpur – Despite the announcement by the Police that Bersih 4.0 is an illegal assembly two key leaders of the Hindu community have urged Hindu Temples to open their doors for the Bersih 4.0 participants to enter and take shelter and rest but they also reminded participants not to bring politics into the temples.
Mohan Shan, President of Malaysian Hindu Sangam, the largest Hindu Association in the country, in a statement that appeared in Tamil Media today said “We should provide shelter for Bersih 4.0 participants to take rest inside temples and we urge the Hindu temples to do the same”.
Mohan Shan is also the Acting President of Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).
In another separate statement, Datuk A.Vaithialingam, former President of Malaysian Hindu Sangam also said “temples can allow Bersih 4.0 participants to take rest inside the temples. There is nothing wrong but they must adhere to the rules once inside the temples. Also don’t bring politics into the temples”.
Hindraf has also urged Indians to take part in the Bersih 4.0 rallies.
However, former Deputy Minister Datuk T.Murugiah in a statement called on Indians not to participate in Bersih rallies aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. “He has done much for the Indians and therefore the Indian community should not support the rallies” claimed Murugiah.
In another development, it has been announced that three Catholic churches will open their doors to rally goers. Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Julian Leow said a place of worship is not only a house of prayer but also a place of rest for the weary and needy.
The three churches are St. John’s Cathedral in Bukit Nanas, St. Anthony’s Church in Pudu and Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Brickfields which will become places of sanctuary during Bersih 4 rally.
These announcements are seen as significant and important developments for the progress of democracy in Malaysia since these statements have been made despite the announcement by the Government and the Police that the Bersih 4.0 rallies are illegal.
