Government has been consulting Hindu Sangam since the early 1980s on the entry of priests from India

We know the troublemakers, Hindu Sangam says of priests from India
Sean Augustin
-October 31, 2019 9:00 AM
FMT
Malaysia Hindu Sangam president RS Mohan Shan. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A Hindu association has disclosed that the government has been consulting it since the early 1980s on the entry of priests from India into the country.

Malaysia Hindu Sangam president RS Mohan Shan told FMT the association would vet applications by priests intending to come to Malaysia before issuing letters of support to the immigration department and other authorities.

The verification process included checks on whether the priests had delivered hate speeches or been involved in other controversies, he said.

“We have a list,” he added. “We know who misleads the Hindu community and we know who instigates the community. We don’t simply issue letters of support.”


inRead invented by Teads


Mohan was commenting on Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement that all foreign missionaries coming to Malaysia to hold religious talks would be vetted ahead of the events.

Muhyiddin told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday that foreign priests or preachers would need to obtain letters of support from religious associations such as Malaysia Hindu Sangam, the Malaysia Buddhist Society and the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship.

Mohan said his association once recommended the barring of Swami Nithyananda from the country. “All of his teachings mislead the Hindu community,” he added.

However, he said the association would have no control over the movement of priests entering with tourist visas. “But if we know they are up to no good, we will inform the immigration department.”

Malaysian Gurdwaras Council president Jagir Singh told FMT his group would be happy to attend any consultation session with the government.

He said the council had in fact written to the immigration chief on the matter but had yet to receive a response.




Under the current practice, he said, a member of the council would merely fill up forms and attach copies of passports held by priests intending to enter the country.

The immigration department would consider the applications at a monthly meeting, he added.

But he described the process as cumbersome, saying 15 different types of documents were needed.

“It should be made easier,” he said.