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Here's what you should know today.
Key Highlights
Rocky start for Muslim-Hindu ‘peace talks’
DAP turns 60, dreams of ’Malaysia for Malaysians’
Rocky start for Muslim-Hindu ‘peace talks’
A group of Muslim and Hindu NGOs met on Wednesday night in an attempt to resolve rising tensions between the two communities.
It is not clear who organised the peace talks, but it appeared to have government backing as the dialogue was organised under the Madani Harmony banner. Police are also believed to have played a role, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim lauded the effort.
While those who attended appeared to move in a positive direction, there appears to be little support from Hindu rights groups.
The only major Hindu group present at the talks was the Malaysian Hindu and Temples Association (Mahima), led by MIC treasurer-general N Sivakumar, who is also the son of long-time Batu Caves temple committee chief R Nadarajah.
Rival group Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) and the National Hindu Temples Steering Committee (NHTSC) rejected the talks, saying that the majority of Hindu NGOs were not present.
Likewise, two DAP politicians, Jelutong MP RSN Reyer and senator RA Lingeshwaran, decided not to attend the talks at the last minute after learning that controversial preachers Firdaus Wong and Zamri Vinoth would be present.
The rejections are likely to undermine the legitimacy of any decisions made by the peace talks group, which have so far called for a land audit on temple lands and the establishment of a special committee by the Prime Minister’s Department.
Meanwhile, hardline ‘activist’ Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak has also panned the talks, implying that Muslims were capitulating to Hindus.
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DAP turns 60, dreams of ’Malaysia for Malaysians’
DAP turned 60 on Wednesday, and is celebrating with the theme "Malaysia for Malaysians", with aspirations to return to its roots of being a party for the little people including the poor, marginalised, and hawkers.
DAP chairperson Gobind Singh Deo also said the anniversary should mark a renewal of DAP's goal of building a united country.
The milestone, however, comes less than four months before DAP is set to make a monumental decision - to stay in government positions or quit - amid simmering discontent from supporters that the party isn’t doing enough to protect their base.
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Views that matter
 | By Mahathir Mohd Rais |
 | Lutfi Hakim Ariff |
 | By Malaysiakini readers |
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