KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) has condemned the alleged use of a premises identified as a Hindu temple in Klang to store drugs, stressing that places of worship must not be exploited for criminal activities.
Its president, Sri Kasi Sangapooshan Thanga Ganesan, said the organisation unequivocally opposed all forms of crime, particularly drug trafficking, which runs counter to Hinduism’s religious and moral principles.
“Such activities are fundamentally contrary to the religious, moral and spiritual values upheld by Hinduism,” he said in a statement to Scoop.
Ganesan commended the police for their efforts to combat drug-related offences and expressed support for a thorough and impartial investigation.
He said those found to have participated in criminal activities must be held accountable, irrespective of their religious beliefs, position or background.
“Anyone found responsible should face the full consequences of the law, regardless of religious affiliation, position or background,” he said.
However, Ganesan cautioned against using the alleged actions of individuals to cast aspersions on Hindu temples or the wider Hindu community in Malaysia.
“The alleged criminal acts by individuals should not be generalised or attributed to Hindu temples or the wider Hindu community in Malaysia,” he added.
He also called for a clear distinction between the criminal investigation and any issues concerning the premises’ registration, establishment or land status, saying such matters should be handled through the relevant administrative and legal procedures.
“Questions relating to the registration, establishment or land status of places of worship are separate administrative and legal matters that should be addressed through the appropriate processes,” he said.
Ganesan urged Hindu temple management committees to strengthen their oversight and accountability, including through proper administration and reasonable supervision of their premises, to prevent places of worship from being misused.
His statement followed Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Shazeli Kahar’s announcement on Friday (Oct 23) that police had raided a storeroom at an unregistered temple in South Klang during a series of operations targeting drug syndicates.
A man who worked part-time assisting with the temple’s management was also arrested.
Shazeli said investigations were under way to establish whether the premises had been used as a front to store drugs. Initial checks indicated that the temple was not registered.
“We are still investigating whether the temple was used as a front for drug storage, as initial checks found it to be unregistered,” he said at a press conference at the Selangor police headquarters on Friday. – October 24, 2026