Yet another temple demolished. That phrase is becoming common even though it was not supposed to be. This time, in KL, a place were the Deputy Minister Saravana pledged that no temples will be demolished without proper relocation plan or or solution. DBKL also has a committee consisting of MHS officials (well, not sure if the committee still exists or not). And yet still got temples being demolished. Interestingly, the DBKL officials say they have authority to demolish new structures built illegally. If that’s the case, then need to provide proof that the structure is new and the place was not a temple prior to this. But the followers say its a 60 year old temple. So, which is which? Maybe it is 6o years old, and the new structure was built to replace an older (and most likely smaller basic) one?
Anyway, this will make Deputy Minister Saravanan hot under the collar as its his head is on the block now.
A Hindu temple in Air Panas, Setapak was demolished by the Kuala Lumpur city council (DBKL) yesterday morning, leaving local villagers crying foul.
According to Om Sri Maha Kaliaman Alayam temple caretaker Ravi Shankar, about 20 DBKL enforcement officers came with bulldozers to demolish the more than 60-year-old temple without any notice.
DBKL officials however refuted the allegations, stressing that the building was in fact a new structure.
“We have the authority to demolish any new structures that have been built illegally, without notice,” said Sadiaah Hashim, administrative assistant of the DBKL squatter division.
Ravi has since made a report against DBKL at Sentul Police Station. He said that worshippers were praying at the temple at around 9am when a team of DBKL enforcement officers moved in to demolish the structure. “We did not try to stop them. We were taken by surprise and scared.”
MIC information chief, P Kamalanathan confirmed the incident and said that DBKL should have offered an alternative site before demolishing the temple.
“It should not havehappened. They should have consulted the local community leaders before demolishing the sacred place,” he said.
Lawyer P Uthayakumar who assisted the caretaker in making the report said: “According to the principles of Article 11, the temple should not have been demolished just as people do not demolish mosques.”
The Human Rights Party (HRP) have also submitted a letter to the prime minister, federal territories minister and Kuala Lumpur mayor to condemn the demolition and demanded that all Hindu temples be gazetted.