bobjots : redux

Terence: Do you want to retort against Chandra’s allegations about the words you uttered when you visited the Hindu temple in Penang? (Background: In March 27, 1998, a group of Muslims marched from the Kampung Rawa mosque to the nearby Sri Raja Raja Madurai Veeran temple, angered by the loud ringing of the temple’s prayer bells. The resulting clash between 500 Muslims and Hindus resulted in several people being injured. The dispute was settled when the state government provided an alternative site for the temple.)

Anwar: These accusations are excessive. Did he ask me what happened at the mosque? I was DPM at that time and nobody wanted to go down there. I went to the mosque and then the temple. (Then) IGP (Inspector General of Police Tan Sri) Rahim Noor called up the Penang CPO (chief police officer) and told him: “Tell Anwar not to go down to the mosque as the police cannot guarantee his safety.” (Incidentally it was Rahim Noor who gave Anwar his black eye that inspired the PKR symbol). I told the CPO: “You call back the IGP and tell him, I cannot be a Penang leader if I can’t settle this problem.” Nobody wanted to go! Koh Tsu Koon, Shariff Omar, all the excos semua tak nak pergi! So I went.

You know the problem? I told the mosque people, azan five times a day is ok but there were some announcements, touching on Melayu and Islam, some hints ... so I told them: “Lima kali. Lebih daripada itu, I have a problem. I kena rampas you punya mike.” (Five times. Anything more, I will have to seize your microphone.) So they said: “Jangan Datuk.” So I said: “You know I’m with you, don’t overdo it.”

I also told Koh Tsu Koon to give them the land for the (relocation of the) temple. So, I told the (Muslim) people, you pukul budak Hindu umur 12 tahun, (hit a 12-yearold Hindu boy) is not right. So they settled and shook hands. Done. I only brought my plainclothes guards. Even the police were not allowed in the temple because people were already angry as they teargased the neighbourhood.

I said the same thing to the temple committee: “I know your prayer times.” I was studying in Malay College Kuala Kangsar where there was a temple next door. You don’t have to look at your watch. Teng! Teng! Teng! Teng! 6am. Teng! Teng! Teng! Teng! 6pm. So I told them don’t provoke because during the Muslim prayer times they were ringing the bells even louder. So I told them that I warned the mosque committee that I will seize the microphone. So, to the temple committee, I said if you do the same thing, I will also rampas your bells.

And what did Chandra say? That I threatened to silence all bells in Hindu temples across the nation?! It’s not true. Of course I had to sound very tough also. How do you solve the problem when they are fighting like that? It is totally wrong what they are trying to portray me as.

I am very indebted to the Indian community. They have helped me a lot. You see the Bukit Selambau fellow (Independent candidate V. Arumugan)? He said he will join PKR if I come there and hold his hand. So I did. And he won, and now he has joined Keadilan!

This is one dead horse that really ought to be allowed to rest in peace .. so stop flogging it already.