Malaysia’s ‘illegal’ temple row: PM slams vigilantism after rally ban

Police detained 19 people, including a controversial preacher, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday warned against playing ‘hero’

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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a press conference with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (not pictured) in Putrajaya on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:05pm, 9 Feb 2026Updated: 5:46pm, 9 Feb 2026

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday warned against allowing disputes over “illegal” houses of worship to spill into communal confrontation, after police detained 19 people linked to a planned rally in central Kuala Lumpur that authorities said risked inflaming racial and religious tensions.

The “Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship” rally had been scheduled for around 8pm on Saturday near Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, close to the Sogo shopping complex. Police denied permission on security grounds after receiving 131 reports opposing the demonstration.

Temple disputes are a recurring flashpoint in Malaysia, a multi-ethnic country where Islam is the official religion but other faiths are freely practised. Such rows often begin as land or planning disputes but can quickly turn into identity battles when religious sites sit on plots claimed by private landowners, state agencies or local councils.

Speaking at the Ministry of National Unity’s monthly assembly on Monday, Anwar framed the issue as a test of social cohesion, urging civil servants and Malaysians more broadly to actively safeguard stability even amid political friction.

A still from footage circulated on social media shows a person being detained in central Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, after police denied permission for an “Anti-Illegal Houses of Worship” rally. Photo: X/bckupacc99

“In this monthly meeting, I want to stress the core issue of national unity,” he said, adding that economic growth alone would not ensure well-being “if conflict continues”.

Malaysia’s ‘illegal’ temple row: PM slams vigilantism after rally ban

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Police detained 19 people, including a controversial preacher, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday warned against playing ‘hero’

Police detained 19 people, including a controversial preacher, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday warned against playing ‘hero’