Cow-head protest was end of tether for Sect 23 folk
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, The Malaysian Insider
For the residents of the middle class Taman Ixora neighbourhood in Section 23 here, the cow-head protest after Friday prayers underlined their anger and frustration against a government unwilling to heed their views.
While they have mixed feelings about brandishing a cow-head during the protest, they are adamant in not wanting the Section 19 Sri Mahamariamman Temple relocated to their predominantly Malay-Muslim neighbourhood, more so near the Surau Al-Jannah.
The faded graffiti on the zinc fence surrounding the disputed site reflected their feelings.
“We object to this temple”, “Pakatan Rakyat cannot be trusted” and “Rodziah babi” were written on the fence. Rodziah Ismail is the Batu Tiga state assemblywoman, which covers the area, and an executive councillor in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.
On Friday, they went a step further to show that they were at the end of their tether by holding a noisy demonstration outside the Selangor state secretariat, dragging a severed cow-head which they stomped and spat on. The act is offensive to Hindus, who regard cows as sacred.
Although riot police stood by at the state secretariat, they are in full force at the neighbourhood multi-purpose hall beside the proposed temple site, which is now a lush green field.
Shah Alam OCPD ACP Noor Azam Jamaludin said they had been stationed there before the protest and will remain until Sept 3.
On a visit to the neighbourhood, the Malay residents expressed anger and felt it was unsuitable for the temple to be built in a predominantly Muslim community.
They also argued the location was not strategic because there is only one major exit from the neighbourhood to the main highway and the temple would likely create congestion in the area.
Others also felt that they have been cheated and abandoned by their Muslim PR leaders.
“I attended yesterday’s demonstration because this is my neighbourhood and I must show support. That is what I want. I hung this Umno flag, but I voted one for Khalid Samad and Rodziah. I voted for PKR but I felt cheated. I have this Umno flag to show my anger,” Sukhani Mohd Jamil stressed, venting his anger at the state lawmakers.
Khalid Samad is the Shah Alam MP, which encompasses this neighbourhood in the predominantly Malay constituency.
The 30 year old father explained that neighbourhood had objected when they learned the temple was planned to built near their homes but they did not receive any response.
Sukhani felt cheated when he learned that the state government had not consulted the residents and approved the building of the temple.