Reimagine temples' role in supporting mental health within the Indian community - Sivarraajh

SHAH ALAM - Former MIC youth chief Senator Datuk C. Sivarraajh has called for religious institutions to play a more active role in tackling the issue of suicide within the Indian community in Malaysia.

He suggested temples should not solely focus on fundraising and renovations, but also engage in community outreach through "Devaram" (devotional poetry) and "thirukural" (Tamil text on ethics and morality) classes, promoting spirituality and ethical values.

"What I have observed is that everyone from all aspects of the community contributes to the temples in every way.

"The government, the people, everyone gives contributions to the temples so that they can play the role they were assigned to," Sivarraajh said in the Sana Sini podcast aired recently.

Sivarraajh believed that religion could provide valuable guidance.

"Sometimes the biggest solution for problems is religion because it is a guideline for every individual.

"With proper guidelines, critical problems that plagued the community can be reduced or even halted," he said.

Sivarraajh also highlighted concerns about contributions being utilised for purposes like renovations and building more temples.

"Embark on activities that engage the devotees to meet up and take part in useful activities," he said.

His co-host, political analyst Professor Datuk Dr Professor P. Sivamurugan noted that suicide cases involving the Muslim community registered lower rates due to religious prohibitions against suicide.

Sivarraajh said the suicide rate in the Malaysian Indian community was about 19.8 per cent.

He urged parents in the Indian community to engage in open communication with their adolescents.

"An open conversation with your son or daughter can be very helpful and even life-saving," he added.

In a related matter, Sivamurugan condemned the "arrogant support system" problem, where people dismissed potential victims' struggles.

He stressed the need for genuine support and empathy in preventing tragedies.

The duo's comments were prompted by the death of a 44-year-old mother of three believed to have been targeted with hateful comments on her TikTok account.

Malaysia ranked second in Asia in 2020 for cyberbullying among youths, according to a United Nations Children’s Fund report.