Malaysian Hindus protest Obama’s portrayal as Lord Shiva

KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian Hindu organisation has urged the government to ban the latest issue of American magazine Newsweek for “insulting Hindus” by depicting US President Barack Obama as Lord Shiva.

P. Murugiah, deputy chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s Penang state branch, Tuesday said the November issue of the magazine portrayed Obama as Nadarajah (Lord Shiva) with the caption “God of All Things”.

“We have received many complaints since the magazine hit news stands last Saturday,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

Murugiah said sacred Hindu images were too often portrayed in pop culture without a proper understanding of their spiritual relevance.

“We want the publisher to apologise to Hindus worldwide for their insensitivity in using the image of a highly revered Hindu deity in such an incredulous manner,” he said.

Multi-racial Malaysia is home to 2.1 ethnic Indians, a bulk of them Tamils. They form eight percent of the country’s 28 million population.