KUALA LUMPUR, 5 January 2025 – Photos of a prayer gathering allegedly organized by PKR members in a temple during Anwar Ibrahim’s imprisonment have resurfaced and gone viral, sparking controversy on social media. The images emerged just a day before a planned prayer gathering by MIC at Batu Caves Temple in solidarity with former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The viral photos have drawn attention to the apparent double standards of Senator Saraswathy Kandasami, a PKR Vice President, who recently condemned MIC for organizing prayers for Najib at the Batu Caves Temple. In her statement, the Senator had criticized the use of religious spaces for what she described as “politically motivated activities,” sparking a heated debate about the role of places of worship in political and social expressions.
The resurfaced photos have backfired on Senator Saraswathy and PKR, with many pointing out the hypocrisy of her criticism. Social media users and political commentators have questioned why similar prayers held for Anwar Ibrahim were deemed acceptable by PKR, but the same act is now being condemned when organized by MIC.
“This is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black,” one commentator wrote. “If PKR had no issue organizing prayers for Anwar, why is MIC being attacked for doing the same for Najib?”
A senior MIC leader who declined to be named, in response to the controversy, emphasized that the gathering at Batu Caves is a peaceful and spiritual event, not a political rally. “It is ironic that those who once held similar events are now lecturing others about the sanctity of places of worship,” he said.
The backlash has put PKR in a difficult position, with critics accusing the party of using double standards to attack its political rivals. The controversy highlights the sensitive interplay between religion and politics in Malaysia, where places of worship often serve as both spiritual and communal spaces.
As the debate rages on, the focus has shifted from the planned MIC gathering to PKR’s own actions, leaving Senator Saraswathy’s statement under scrutiny. Many are now calling on her and her party to address the apparent contradiction in their stance.