Dec 03 2008
DBKL demolishes shrine, Saravanan upset
According to the Star, DBKL (City Hall) has demolished a 15-year-old Hindu shrine in Taman Desa, Seputeh, at 10am yesterday, causing another round of outbursts from the Hindu community.
Apparently, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) issued a notice indicating the actions it would take on Oct 23, but the message was pasted on the shrine’s wall and not handed over to the management.
Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said he was upset over the demolition. “I have an understanding with the Federal Territories Minister that no existing temples would be demolished. If there was any development on the land, then the temple would be relocated,” he said.
Saravanan said he would arrange for a meeting with the DBKL officers to get full details.
Meanwhile, after saying he will meet PM over the fatwa issue, Samy Vellu says he would also speak to PM Badawi about this temple demolishment issue.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has asked DBKL to explain why it demolished the shrine that was located on a field.
He added that he would speak to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about the issue.
I’d love to condemn Saravanan for his failure, but then I realise this case is similar with Maha Kaliamman temple in Ampang. The elected representatives were not informed of things that are happening, and I notice that this tend to happen to non-UMNO politicians only. So, now the blame is on DBKL, Saravanan is left red-faced, and Pakatan will have field day blasting BN, MIC, and Saravanan. Looks like MIC better push for local council elections. They seem to suffer the most from local councils actions.
DBKL has a committee that oversees temple issues. I think MHS, MIC and other relevant people are in the committee. So how can this demolition take place? Is everyone aware of the demolition but putting on a “drama” or the committee never did have any meetings regarding this temple? Or is possible that DBKL staff themselves forgot that such a committee exists?
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MHS president mr vaithalingam said in saturday NST MHS was not consulted in this matter compared to previous times when there was direct communication when it comes to dealing with issues like this “city hall would ring me up,also the MCA and MIC and we would send officials to the location and meet with leaders of the temple or the developer to investigate”
He also said that “city hall action is uncalled for, and it was good that FT deputy minister saravanan had agreed to rebuild the shrine but the incident could have been avoided in the very beginning had proper consultation been carried out”
There are dozens of hindu organisation in malaysia but why MHS expect DBKL to deal and discuss with them?? did parliament pass any legislation giving authority to MHS to represent malaysian indians in matter regarding their religion affairs??
lets say after consulting do MHS have any right to give green light to DBKL to demolish particular temple??
MHS shouldnt decide which temple can be demolished and which cant be demolished.
We never stand on the hot sun and vote MHS office bearers to make and get involved in decision making process…….we elect politicians to do that.
This country must be ruled by politicians who got mandate from people not NGO’s.
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I was there few hours after they demolished the shrine.
The shrine was a very small structure ( few feet wide ).
Not-surprisingly some of the local Indians were happy the shrine got demolished! They said the temple is usually for “kuda/toto” kakis to take numbers and for our “kaigals/machans” to lepak and drink cheap liquor.
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poobalan reply on December 11th, 2008:
i think for future cases, the relevant complainants should take some video of the going-ons at the shrines so that can be used as evidence.
interesting things is that some indians are happy the shrine is demolished because others misuse (?) the place. Why not just ask police to catch the criminals? Isn’t that more logical? I mean if the police knows that those kakis always hangout there, drinking and generally making a nuisance, then do an “operasi” with MHS, Jabatan Perpaduan, DBKL, etc. Can bring the media also to shoot the evidence.
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