| 
Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Finally, a bit of good news for the Muniswaran Temple in Setapak. But another two temples in the vicinity were demolished earlier, the Perianna Muneswarar Temple and Maha Kaliamman Alayam.
THE Sri Muniandy Muniswaran temple in Air Panas, Setapak, will be relocated to its new site near SMK Tinggi Setapak after an amicable agreement was reached between the temple management and relevant parties a week ago.
Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib, who visited the old temple site, said they would be providing financial aid to speed up the temple relocation.
“We have asked the temple management to submit their building plan for the new temple to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) as soon as possible. They may even get approval within a month provided they adhere to the guidelines,” he said.
Ahmad Phesal said a Chinese temple that was previously located in Jalan Ayer Tawar would also be sharing the site.
He also said the ministry along with the Federal Territories Lands and Mines Department took the initiative to reserve the new site for both places of worship.
“We have had six discussions with the temple management and relevant parties since March 19 to find an amicable solution,” he added.
The relocated temples are making way for a RM7.86mil DBKL development called the Air Panas Setapak Neighbourhood Park under the 9th Malaysia Plan.
“This project involves 10.5ha of land, including a water retention pond. The park will be for the residents in the area,” Ahmad Phesal said.
The project that began in June 2008 was supposed to be completed end of March this year but was delayed for more than a year due to the problem of relocating the temples.
Temple management vice-president Veerayah Seeneevasagam said they were happy to get a plot of land which is near bus stops and along the main road.
“Now we have a permanent place and we are thankful to get the land, especially in the city,” Veerayah said, adding that Hindu custom had not allowed them to move between July 7 to Aug 15.
They have already planted a arasamaram tree at the new site and expect to bring plant eight more trees behind the Public Housing Project Sungai Bunus soon.
“We are also happy with the 1Malaysia concept of the new site with the Chinese temple nearby,” Veerayah said, adding that their requirements for a new temple included a 12m by 18m hall.
Currently, the temple is housed under a temporary tent at the new site.
This is problem already started since early last year. According to Deputy FT minister Saravanan:
Twenty-eight out of 29 Hindu temples sitting on disputed land around Kuala Lumpur have agreed to relocate by May.
Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said all 28 temple caretakers had agreed to relocate to several locations provided by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) except for the Sri Muniaswarar Temple in Jalan Air Panas, Setapak, which remained adamant in staying put.
“It is the government’s policy not to demolish any house of worship without first giving it an alternative area to relocate to.
“To those who refuse to relocate, they will be given 30 days and an alternative location, following which we may proceed to demolish the building,“ he told reporters at the Buddha Miao You Temple in Setapak yesterday.
Saravanan said the temples had been given notices to relocate last year but many refused to do so until the DBKL issued the last notice on March 1.
“We did not force them to move out without giving them another place to go; several alternatives had been suggested,” he said.
So, it took about 17 months to settle the relocation.
Traditional: A model wearing the costume worn by Muslim women called the Mundu.
