Cow-head protest was end of tether for Sect 23 folk

SHAH ALAM, Aug 30 — For the residents of the middle class Taman Ixora neighbourhood in Section 23 here, the cow-head protest after Friday prayers underlined their anger and frustration against a government unwilling to heed their views.

While they have mixed feelings about brandishing a cow-head during the protest, they are adamant in not wanting the Section 19 Sri Mahamariamman Temple relocated to their predominantly Malay-Muslim neighbourhood, more so near the Surau Al-Jannah.

The faded graffiti on the zinc fence surrounding the disputed site reflected their feelings.

“We object to this temple”, “Pakatan Rakyat cannot be trusted” and “Rodziah babi” were written on the fence. Rodziah Ismail is the Batu Tiga state assemblywoman, which covers the area, and an executive councillor in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.

On Friday, they went a step further to show that they were at the end of their tether by holding a noisy demonstration outside the Selangor state secretariat, dragging a severed cow-head which they stomped and spat on. The act is offensive to Hindus, who regard cows as sacred.

Although riot police stood by at the state secretariat, they are in full force at the neighbourhood multi-purpose hall beside the proposed temple site, which is now a lush green field. - + selanjutnya

Cow-head protest was end of tether for Sect 23 folk