Mohandass (third from left) and other Lebuh Bagor Residents Watch Group members in front of the Chinese temple in Taman Petaling Indah after their protest march. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT/THE STAR
ABOUT a dozen residents in Taman Petaling Indah, Klang, Selangor, gathered to protest against a Chinese temple illegally built on residential land.
The residents, most of whom live along Lebuh Bagor, want Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to issue a stop-work order against the temple management for wrongful use of land and to cease using the building for religious purposes.
Datuk Mohandass S. Nair, who is with Lebuh Bagor Residents Watch Group, said the residents had made known their objections against the temple to the council since 2017.
“(The land) is designated for individual residential lots.
“We want the council to ensure that zoning regulations and restrictions are followed, to maintain the character of the housing area,” he added.
Resident Md Nor Hassan, 75, who has lived at Lebuh Bagor since 1984, said the narrow residential road was not equipped to cater to an increase in traffic due to temple activities.
“The majority of the residents along Lebuh Bagor are against the temple operating in a residential area as it will lead to traffic congestion during worship sessions and prayer events.
“Worse still, we are worried that Lebuh Bagor will become a high traffic area and this will put senior citizens and children walking in the neighbourhood in danger,” he said.
Md Nor is worried about the increase in traffic in the residential area due to the temple.
Former teacher Cheah Soo Lean, 83, is also worried about the influx of traffic posing a danger to pedestrians.
Homemaker Linda Wong Kong Foong, 67, said commercial businesses like a confinement centre had also been built on the same stretch of land.
“We have lodged complaints to MPK, as we had not been consulted,” she said, adding that the temple and confinement centre must move out.
Businessman and resident Hothiyakumar Kandasamy said all 44 houses along Lebuh Bagor were united against the use of residential land for other purposes.“We have the Chinese temple and a confinement centre operating on residential land.
“It is total abuse of the land status and the council should issue a stop-work order immediately,” he added.
MPK’s deputy president Elya Marini Darmin said initial investigations into the temple issue revealed that the application for planning permission and building plans was for a bungalow.
“However, the building was converted into a temple without permission.
“More structures had been added without permission and it is a misuse of the building.
“For now, legal notices are in the process of being drawn up.
“Investigation papers at the council’s Buildings Department have been completed and the council’s Legal Department is in the process of bringing the matter to court,” she said.
As for the confinement centre, Elya said a public hearing was held recently and the residents’ objections were heard.
She said the matter would be brought to MPK’s One Stop Centre meeting.
StarMetro had previously highlighted this illegal Chinese temple issue on April 1, 2019, and MPK said it had sent two warning letters to the landowner ordering them to cease operations.
