poobalan.com

 

This was the reaction from MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu yesterday on the demolition of a 36-year-old Hindu temple in Shah Alam by the Selangor government. Samy Vellu said he was so hurt by the state government's action that MIC almost cancelled all its Deepavali open houses as a mark of respect to all Hindus. The MIC had issued a statement on Monday announcing that all open houses by MPs and state assemblymen would be cancelled, but the notice was retracted hours later.

Samy Vellu expressed displeasure at the handling of the temple issue at Kampung Karuppiah, Padang Jawa, by the authorities, but said he was ready to move on. "There are discussions and meetings going on between MIC and the state government. "It is our hope that in the future, something like this will never happen," he said after presenting the Jalur Gemilang to 15 youths who will represent Malaysia in the 39th World Skills Competition in Shizuoka, Japan.

"For us (MIC), we are part of the government. We want to solve problems, not fight with the government." Samy Vellu said the state government had allocated a 10,000 square feet land in Shah Alam for the temple to be rebuilt. "The menteri besar has given his word that they will help to rebuild the temple." Samy Vellu also assured Hindus that the statues of deities had been removed safely.

He blasted a group of residents in Padang Jaya who are adamant in rebuilding the temple at the original site. Samy Vellu said he was aware that many are unhappy with the demolition of the temple. "I am also unhappy and have expressed this point to the cabinet and to the council of menteris besar and chief ministers."

 

In a function on Monday in "Little India" in Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang, Samy Vellu said he would be calling for a meeting of all committees of temples built on private or government land in Selangor. "This is to help resolve the problem of temporary temples, which do not have their own land and are not registered," he said. He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had decided that in future, issues relating to temples must be dealt with by the menteri besar and himself.