-Dr.S.Ramakrishnan, December 10, 2012.

On 20th Nov some 30 officers from Sepang Municipal Council (MPS) trespassed into S. Gobikumar’s house and demolished an altar his family built for personal prayers.

The altar was structurally ready but no statues were installed and no prayers had commenced. Looking at the altar size  outside the house but within the compound clearly shows that such a structure is in violation of the local council act. 

I came to understand that the house owner S.Gobikumar was given 3 warnings within a 6 months period to tear it down by the Sepang municipal council.

The council was challenged by S.Gobikumar to tear it down if they dared. I think some people are foolish enough to challenge knowing well that such structure is illegal.

S.Gobikumar is a supporter of Thanendran, the betrayer of makkal sakti movement, and his other family members are MIC members. S.Gobikumar is known to go into trance and giving his consultation and this attracts some crowd to his house. 

Selangor state government has a standing ruling since they took over the state in 2008 that no temple can be destroyed. The municipal council heads in Selangor need to get state permission before bringing down any temple structure. I suppose in this case the council enforcement personnel made their own decision since this is not a temple but instead an illegal extension within the compound. Menteri Besar and state government seem to be caught off guard by this unilateral action of the Sepang municipal enforcement personnel.
 

MIC, that was rejected and is still nursing the wounds of its 2008 defeat, saw it a timely opportunity to capitalize on this demolition of illegal altar structure outside the house.

They think this issue will catapult them into political limelight again by championing the demolition of this shrine.

This action of MIC youth shows that they cannot champion any worthwhile cause for Indians.

I only wish they show the same vigor and enthusiasm in matters like the lack of job opportunities, discrimination in business opportunities, granting of scholarships and allocating of places in higher education institutions. They are silent and indifferent and tacitly support the UMNO’s discriminative policies.

But when it comes to scoring political points for UMNO/BN, MIC youth show a lot of drive and enthusiasm. They had summoned gangsters to join them in their protest at the state secretariat building last friday (7/12) against the demolition of this illegal extension.   
If MIC youth still behaves as UMNO’s lapdogs and champion mundane and illegal activities of ignorant members of the Indian community, are they doing any service and justice to the Indian community?

Now they have promised to rebuild the illegal altar in S.Gobikumar’s house. This will strengthen others like S.Gobikumar to build more illegal extensions. By supporting such activities is MIC youth showing the community the right way forward?

Indians in Malaysia have come a long way in political realization and are looking forward to effect a change of government. But MIC is doing everything to keep Indians indulging in superstitious and devious activities so that they can continue to have a political role.

PR Indian leaders too are caught in a difficult situation. As much as we do not want council enforcement personnel to break our shrines, they too do not support challenging the enforcement officer who break an illegal extension.

Indian politicians have a larger political agenda like our rights as citizens of this country, low enrolment in universities, lack of job and business opportunities. Therefore, instances such as breaking of this shrine outside the house are a distraction to the larger political struggle and must be avoided.