Religion in Malaysia - Hinduism

Hinduism

The majority of the Tamil's who make up 9 per cent of Malaysia's population practice Hinduism. Hinduism was influential prior to Islam, but current adherents are mostly descended from migrant communities from Tamil Nadu who came to Malaya to work on British rubber plantations. A small community of migrants from North India also exists.

Urban temples are often dedicated to a single deity, while rural temples are often home to many different deities. Most were brought with immigrants. Most temples follow Saivite tradition from Southern India, for the worship of Siva. The Hindu holiday of Deepavali is a national holiday. Practice of the Hindu religion in Malaysia is strongly linked with the cultural identity of Indians who reside there. Someone who converts to another religion may be ostracised by their family and the Indian community.

There is growing tensions among the Hindu community of what they see as a government-backed drive to demolish Hindu temples under the guise that they are illegal structures. The Hindu Rights Action Force, a coalition of 50 Hindu-based NGOs, has accused the government of an unofficial policy of "temple cleansing", with much of the demolition focused around the capital city Kuala Lumpur. An Indian minister in the cabinet even threatened to boycott Deepavali in response to these demolitions.