KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Dec 2008: Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk M Saravanan today landed himself in hot soup with the Malaysian Hindu community after a temple in Jalan Kelang Lama here was demolished by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
This is because Saravanan, after taking office in April this year, had promised that City Hall, which comes under the ministry, would not demolish temples unless another site had been allocated for them by the local authority.
The latest demolition of the temple at Bt 4, Jalan Kelang Lama, runs smack against this promise and the Hindu community is now asking questions.
Today, a group of Hindus, including MIC Youth, held a peaceful demonstration at the temple site.
Saravanan, when contacted by Bernama, said he would meet Federal Territories Minister Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique tomorrow and call for a press conference after that.
“I have said it more than once that temples would not be demolished unless alternative sites have been given. Now DBKL has demolished a temple. I need to get the full details on why the temple was demolished. The matter was not even brought to my attention, when it should have.
“I do not want to point fingers at anyone without investigating the matter. Give me 24 hours and we will resolve the issue,” said Saravanan, who was visibly peeved with the incident.
In the meantime, Saravanan, who is also the MIC information chief, called on Hindus not to take the law into their own hands and give the ministry a day or two before the issue could be resolved amicably. — Bernama
