Thursday September 25, 2008 MYT 8:56:23 PM
Temple demolition: ‘Officers acted against state directive’
By DHARMENDER SINGH, EDWARD RAJENDRA and A. LETCHUMANAN
KLANG: The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) officers who tore down a Hindu temple had acted against a state government directive barring the destruction of places of worship.
State Local Government, Study and Research Committee chairman Ronnie Liu said the state government had issued an order asking all local councils to halt such actions against all places of worship.
It had issued the directive when it first came into power after the March 8 general election.
The Sri Maha Kaliamman temple in Kampung Tasik, Jalan Baru in Ampang was torn down on Sept 9.
These officers had openly defied the order, he said, and had also by-passed the committee on non-Muslim affairs headed by state executive councillors Teresa Kok, Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Liu himself.
“I contacted the council president a day after the incident and asked him investigate the matter and identify those involved.
“I was told he has submitted a preliminary report to my office but I have not read it since I am away in China now; it would be unfair for me comment further on the incident until I have done so,” he said when contacted on Thursday.
Liu had told a press conference a day after the incident that he was upset with the council officers’ move and warned they would face stern action, including being given the sack.
MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu also condemned the action, saying it went against the Opposition’s promise during the election campaign not to demolish any temples.
“It is very careless of the local council to demolish the temple without first relocating the temple,” he said in a statement.
After being informed of the demolition of the temple on Wednesday, Selangor MIC Youth chief M. Yogeswaran immediately lodged a report at the Ampang Jaya police station.
Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam said the MIC was extremely disappointed with the Pakatan Rakyat state government and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).
“Our stand all along has been that if a temple needs to be relocated due to road expansion or some other major development, it can be relocated with the agreement that a new place of worship be built in an ideal area,” he said.
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