KL temple relocation to make way for mosque to proceed following heated debate

KUALA LUMPUR – A Hindu temple in Malaysia’s capital will be relocated to a site just 50m away following a heated debate over its fate, as a new mosque will be built on its site. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself is slated to lay the foundation stone for the mosque on March 27.

The Dewi Sri Pathra Kaliamman Temple is located in Jalan Masjid India, a popular shopping district in downtown Kuala Lumpur that grabbed headlines in August 2024 when an Indian tourist fell into a sinkhole. Her remains were not found despite a nine-day search.

The temple issue has galvanised Hindus who want the modest 130-year-old house of worship to be retained, with rights groups raising questions about religious freedom, legal authority and cultural preservation.

On the other side of the debate are Muslims who want the new mosque built, and others who argue that the temple was built illegally on public land. The land is currently owned by textile company Jakel Group.

The issue has also taken on an anti-government tone, as critics of Datuk Seri Anwar see him as taking an increasingly strident pro-Malay Muslim stance. He has been trying to win over Malay voters, who largely avoided his Pakatan Harapan coalition in the November 2022 General Election.

The Jakel Group, known for its wide array of fabrics and Malay garments, told its critics last week that it has been in negotiations with the temple’s management for years to relocate the building. The textile company bought the 12,000 sq ft land from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in 2012.

On March 25, a temple official and the Malaysian government announced that the Hindu house of worship will be moved 50m away. Temple secretary Karthik Gunaseelan said the relocation deal was reached after negotiations with DBKL on March