Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday warned against allowing disputes over “illegal” houses of worship to spill into communal confrontation, after police detained 19 people linked to a planned rally in central Kuala Lumpur that authorities said risked inflaming racial and religious tensions.
The “Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship” rally had been scheduled for around 8pm on Saturday near Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, close to the Sogo shopping complex. Police denied permission on security grounds after receiving 131 reports opposing the demonstration.
Temple disputes are a recurring flashpoint in Malaysia , a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country where Islam is the official religion but other faiths are freely practised. Such rows often begin as land or planning disputes but can quickly turn into identity battles when religious sites sit on plots claimed by private landowners, state agencies or local councils.
Speaking at the Ministry of National Unity’s monthly assembly on Monday, Anwar framed the issue as a test of social cohesion, urging civil servants and Malaysians more broadly to actively safeguard stability even amid political friction.
“In this monthly meeting, I want to stress the core issue of national unity,” he said, adding that economic growth alone would not ensure well-being “if conflict continues”.