JOHOR BARU: Two major Indian groups have rejected a recent meeting involving a select group of individuals purportedly representing Hindu interests in discussions on temple related issues. The Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) and the National Hindu Temples Steering Committee (NHTSC) said in a joint statement that the recent meeting has no mandate, legitimacy and no authority to speak on behalf of the Hindu community in Malaysia. MHS president Ganesan Thangavellu said the absence of the overwhelming majority of Hindu NGOs, temple committees and national-level leadership renders any outcome from such a meeting fundamentally unrepresentative. He said NHTSC is the only structured platform currently working at a national level to address temple issues through legal, policy and stakeholder engagement frameworks. Ganesan also asked the authorities if there would be an immediate moratorium on all enforcement actions against Hindu temples pending the implementation of the NHTSC structured national plan.

Source: The Star March 19, 2026 21:55 UTC