KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Sept 2008: The MIC today called on the Selangor government to apologise to the Indian community for the confusing statements relating to the demolition of a Hindu temple in Ampang recently.
In a statement reported by Bernama today, party president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu said representatives of the Selangor government had refused to apologise even though a mistake had been made as there were conflicting statements issued regarding the demolition of the Sri Maha Kaliaman temple on 9 Sept.
He was responding to the statements made by two Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) elected representatives on the issue.
Samy Vellu also wanted the state government to announce whether it will adhere to its policy of not demolishing temples.
According to the Bernama report, Ampang member of Parliament Zuraida Kamaruddin from PKR had apparently said the temple was demolished by the temple committee for renovation purposes, but the chairman of the state committee for health, estate workers and a caring government, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, had said that five to six enforcement officers of the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) were involved in the demolition.
Samy Vellu’s statement, however, came two days after Zuraida issued a press statement on 28 Sept to say her comments on the temple issue had been misquoted by the media.
She clarified that the temple committee chairman had said that the temple was undergoing minor renovation work when the MPAJ moved in to demolish the temple.
