Hindraf’s Jayathas issued statement that the temple – Veera Muneswarar temple – in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng was demolished by gangsters associated with MIC. MIC Youth denied this and claimed that they were in the process of finding a solution to the temple issue. The temple is 20 years old, so most likely its on private land that belongs to someone else.

There are few things that I like to note:

1. Vel Paari is right in the sense that just complaining is pointless. HINDRAF is limited to doing just that – protest because they don’t have locus standi to do anything else, save initiate legal proceedings. No one will accept their memorandum or ideas or solutions. They are considered “outlawed” organisation which is not even registered.

2. If I’m not mistaken, Deputy FT  Minister Saravanan did pledge that no more temples will be demolished without proper alternative or solution. Looks like another broken promise for MIC?

3. Where/what is Hindu Sangam’s role in this? No statement yet from them.

4. What is DBKL’s role in this? Where is their committee on temple issues?

5. At least the developer removed the deities before demolishment, unlike the gangsters in local councils and their henchmen.

MIC Youth is unhappy with being blamed for playing a role in the demolition of a 20-year-old Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The temple – Veera Muneswarar Alayam in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng – was demolished by some unidentified people and had prompted both Hindraf and MIC to converge at the scene to help the temple committee save the place of worship.

Hindraf, which for long has been in the forefront when it comes to protesting temple demolitions, issued a press statement immediately after the demolition, putting the blame on MIC, among others, for the demolition.

Hindraf’s S Jayathas bluntly blamed “MIC gangsters who worked with the developer” in demolishing the temple.

He also claimed that the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had failed to protect the temple and its devotees while allowing others to demolish the temple.

“It is disappointing that the police did not do anything despite the temple committee launching police reports previously against any attempts to demolish the temple,” he said.

But the main plank of his complain was against the MIC.

“Around 35 Indian guys that we suspect were MIC gangsters demolished the 20-year- old temple,” he said in a statement.

MIC Youth was naturally unimpressed with Jayathas’ sweeping accusations.

“This is what he does best – making such clumsy statements and then going away until another temple is demolished,” said MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari.

MIC Youth in talks with developer

Vell Paari added that MIC was not involved in the demolition of the Jalan Yap Kwan Seng temple. On the contrary, he said, the movement was deeply involved in getting the problem solved.

“We have been following up with this temple case from the beginning. We have spoken to the temple committee about three weeks ago and they told us that they wanted to deal directly with the developers.

“And when the demolition took place yesterday, we immediately sent our people over to see what was happening. We contacted DBKL who confirmed that they were not demolishing the temple,” he added.

He said that the demolition was done by the developer who had paid some people to remove the deities from the temple before tearing it down.

“Even then, it was MIC Youth members who helped the temple committee in sorting out the issues. We were there when they lodged a police report after one of them was hurt in the demolition process,” he said.

Vell Paari said that MIC Youth was now working with DBKL and the developer so that some form of arrangement can be made to save or relocate the temple.

“They want to remain in the same place. That will be tough but we are trying to find a best alternative spot for them as well as with adequate compensation from the developer,” he said.

Start finding solutions

He also challenged Jayathas to come up with a proper solution for the Jalan Yap Kwan Seng temple.

“He should not just talk and make wild accusations. Can he sort out the mess for the temple committee? No point in making any noise but without being able to find solutions,” he said.

Temple demolitions have been a thorny issue for the past few years. In 2007, at the height of temple demolitions throughout the country, Hindraf capitalised on the issue by evoking raw emotions among the members of the Indian community.

The anger of the community towards the Barisan Nasional government was apparent when the ruling coalition, including MIC, was roundly routed in the 2008 general election.

Since then MIC had been playing a more proactive role in solving the issues concerning the Indian community.