Land disputes over unregistered Hindu religious sites have long fuelled racial tensions in Muslim-majority Malaysia, with the latest example involving unfounded claims that a public hospital in northern Penang state would be relocated to avoid "disturbing" a nearby temple. The now-deleted post cites a Malaysian minister, whose aide has lodged a police report against the social media user who made the false claim. The hospital's visitor's board said it proposed an expansion, not a relocation.
"Bukit Mertajam Hospital will be relocated to avoid disturbing the temple - Steven Sim Chee Keong," reads a Facebook post shared on March 22, 2026.
Sim is a member of parliament representing the Bukit Mertajam district of northern Penang state and also Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister.
The post includes an image of Sim at the hospital speaking with nurses, supposedly dated March 22.
Around 70 percent of Malaysia's 2,251 Hindu temples serving the country's minority Indian community are unregistered, which often become embroiled in land disputes and face demolition (archived link).
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in February that the government would act against unauthorised houses of worship, particularly those on illegal land, but warned against vigilantism (archived link).
Soon after, four individuals were arrested for trespassing and demolishing a temple built without proper approval from the authorities, but were later released (archived link).
Among them is...
"Bukit Mertajam Hospital will be relocated to avoid disturbing the temple - Steven Sim Chee Keong," reads a Facebook post shared on March 22, 2026. Sim is a member of parliament representing the B...