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Malaysia’s Lucky Wild Pigs
INTRO :
Many countries across the world remain on high alert over the possibility of a swine flu pandemic. More than 50 people have been diagnosed with the virus in Australia, where 2,000 passengers remain quarantined on a cruise ship. And in Japan thousands of commuters and office workers are wearing face masks after an outbreak of cases there.
But the threat of infection has dissuaded Malaysian pilgrims from flocking to a small mining town to receive blessings from a rather unusual source – wild boars.
The pigs are said to bring good fortune to those who touch it.
Clarence Chua has the story.
TEXT
According to the World Health Organisation more than 13,000 people worldwide have been infected with the H1N1 virus more commonly known as Swine flu, since initial outbreaks in Mexico early this year.
Despite the fact that scientists have ruled out the possibility of transmission through eating or handling pig products some countries are insisting on widespread culls to contain the virus. 300,000 pigs have been slaughtered in Egypt.
But in Malaysia it’s a very different story.
Everyday busloads of worshippers descend upon the Jeda Munisvarar Hindu Temple in the town of Taiping in central Malaysia, to get their hands on a family of wild pigs.
It’s believed that touching the pigs will wealth and good fortune. Senior temple assistant N. Morgan explains.
“The wild boars have been visiting the temple for years but it was only a year ago that they started to get close to the worshippers. Here we have candles. The candles have lucky numbers and some worshippers brush the lucky numbers on the wild boars after prayers”.
Visitors light these Lotus shaped candles as offerings. Each one is inscribed with a number. And, so the story goes, a number of worshippers have won the lottery with the numbers after visiting the temple.
45-year-old A. Omprakasarao traveled from the capital Kuala Lumpur with nine family members to test his luck.
“A lot has been said about the pigs. This is my first time here. We’ll see what happens, whether it’s true, tomorrow. Only god knows whether we will win”.
Every evening at 7pm the temple workers ring a bell for the call to prayer. For the pigs, it is a signal for them to leave their jungle enclave.
The pilgrimage has become so popular that the temple is scheduled to undergo a major renovation. An area of the temple near the jungle has been fenced up to prevent overzealous visitors from getting too near the pigs.
Bob Ng is a foreman who lives nearby the temple.
“Sometimes you can see 40 to 50 busses a day. The come from all over the place Ipoh, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor. You can also see cars with Singaporean number plates”.
M. Kara sells candles and flowers at the temples entrance.
“If it’s during public holidays we can sell 3-4 buckets of flowers. Like during Labour Day there were 48 bus loads of pilgrims. It’s like in Batu Caves”.
She says news of the spread of swine flu has not reduced the number of visitors.
“There is no swine flu here. Everything looks normal. You must know that the holy man in this temple is very powerful”.
Bob Ng concurs.
“These things are hard to predict. If you’re destined to get it you’ll get it. Look there are some many kids here. They are not afraid”.
The wild boars are rumored to bring not only good luck but also possess special healing powers.
Senior temple assistant N. Morgan says not everyone is here for the money.
“Those who are sick, those who can’t walk. They will also come. One Chinese man claimed that his cancer was cured when he hugged the pigs. They will first worship in the temple then touch the pigs. You have healing powers from two sources. But the power from the temple is also very strong”.
Despite protests from Muslim leaders, the temple and its pigs are attracting people of all faiths.
The Perak Islamic Department has deemed touching the pigs haram or prohibited by Islam.
N. Morgan says that most Muslim Malays are only here to see the pigs out of curiosity.
“The Malays will only look. Only those from Sabah and Sarawak will touch them”.
As the philosopher Voltaire once said, “When it is a question of money, everybody is of the same religion”.
And with the country facing its toughest recession yet and race relations at an all time low, the true power of the pigs maybe more than just good fortune.
Reminding Malaysians that, despite their differences, they still have a lot in common after all.
Q1) Why do Malaysians believe that the pigs bring good luck?
A1) Visitors claim to have won the lottery using numbered candles that have touched the pigs.
Q2) What is the signal for the pigs to leave their jungle shelters?
A2) When the bell rings at 7pm in the evening.
Q3) Why are some people afraid to eat or touch pig products?
A3) Because they believe that they will be infected with Swine flu or HINI virus.
Q4) Can people contract Swine Flu or HINI by eating or touching pig products?
A4) No, not at the moment.
Q5) Some Malaysians are not allowed to touch the pigs because they are haram. What does this mean?
A5) Muslim people are not allowed to touch or eat pigs because they believe they are unclean. Haram means forbidden.
