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More on Ampang Kaliamman Temple issue

October 3rd, 2008
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I guess the topic is still about the Kaliamman temple since even yesterday night it still appeared on Buletin Utama news! This time, TV3 decided to focus on the suspension of the MPAJ deputy president which was decided without having a full EXCO board meeting. It showed parts of interview with the EXCO for housing, building management and squatter ( i think). He said such an action will create fear in civil servants who want to follow rules but afraid of politicians interference. He said such decisions should have been taken in EXCO meeting and not by just few people.

The news also showed ADUN for Teratai, Janice saying that they were not informed before and after the temple demolition, and only got to know via the media. She said, temple chairman said a member of public complained, and immediately the enforcement unit came and demolished the temple. I guess she herself was surprised with the speed and efficiency of the MPAJ enforcement officers. Same day response!

Next to talk was ADUN Seri Kembangan, the EXCO in charge of New Village development and Illegal Factory Solutions, Ean Yong, who said that if the deputy was founf guilty, he will be facing disciplinary action.

Now, the most important comment was by the Chief Minister Khalid himself who stammered while talking that “something must not be right” if this thing happened. I’m not sure what he was trying to say. Least convincing to hear him talk.

A quick jump to the Star for more clarity:

The state government will engage the Ampang Sri Mahakaliamman temple committee members in a dialogue to discuss relocating the temple to a more suitable place, said Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Khalid added that the demolition was not in line with Pakatan Rakyat’s principles which propagated that all places of worship be given the due recognition and respect.

He added that the state government would also be talking to all local councils about the importance of decorum and sensitivity when dealing with places of worship.

According to Khalid the state government will also look into what had prompted the MPAJ to demolish the temple. Khalid also said if necessary action would be taken against the officer who had ordered the demolition.

He said the crux of the situation was ensuring that the state government delivered what was right as the Pakatan coalition stressed on justice for all.

Meanwhile, earlier I said that only MIC were making all the noise, but a day later, we see Selangor MCA’s Wanita Chief – Chew Mei Fun and  MCA Youth secretary Dr Wee Ka Siong also joining the fray.

Selangor Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun condemned the PKR-led Selangor government saying the party’s promise to protect houses of worship was merely a ploy to fish for votes.

“The Indian voters supported Pakatan Rakyat during the General Elections because they did not expect such treatment.”

MCA Youth secretary-general Dr Wee Ka Siong also expressed disappointment over the demolition and questioned PKR’s promise in their election manifesto.

Dr Wee urged the Selangor government especially the state’s three-men committee overseeing the matters concerning non-Muslims comprising Selangor exco members Ronnie Liu, Teresa Kok and Jayakumar to give a satisfactory reply to the demolition of the temple.

I believe this is the first time MCA representative talk about demolition of Hindu temple. Its Ok, better late than never. Ahh…the joy of being in the opposition. Isn’t it great to oppose everything and anything? 🙂

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MPAJ deputy president suspended

September 30th, 2008
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Not sure if this is the first time or not, but first time I’m reading that a senior government official is being suspended a week effective today (well a week during Raya time is like holiday actually!) over a temple demolishment. Granted that its more of insubordination rather than the issue itself, but still a bold move by the state government.

State Local Government, Research and Study committee chairman Ronnie Liu said Ampang Jaya Muni­cipal Council (MPAJ) deputy president Hamid Hussain was being suspended pending investigations, since he was the one who allegedly ordered that the Sri Maha­kaliaman temple be demolished. According to Ronnie, the decision was made yesterday, adding that investigation by the state three-man committee on non-Muslim religious affairs comprising Teresa Kok, Dr Xavier Jayakumar and himself has begun.

“We are expecting the investigation results by Monday and we will look into the next course of action after that,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Among other things Ronnie mentioned was:

– the council president was on leave when the temple was demolished and Hamid, as the deputy, had reportedly decided on the matter.

– the state government would find a solution to the problem of the Sri Mahakaliaman temple soon.

– so far 27 permits for places of worship, including churches, Hindu temples and Chinese temples on government land, had been given since the Pakatan Rakyat took over the state government.This showed that the state government was very concerned and sensitive to religious matters, he said.

– the state government hoped not to see any new places of worship coming up on land designated as forest and river reserves. He said the people should understand that these reserves should not be occupied for other than the intended use.

Meanwhile, the man in question, Hamid Hussain. who has holidaying in Langkawi, said he did not know anything about the council’s decision to suspend him.

“I’m on Hari Raya leave now and I don’t know what is going on,” he said, adding that he had not received any notice from the state government or council.

When contacted, MPAJ president Datuk Mohammad Yacob said that he had been informed of Hamid’s suspension. “The suspension is the state exco’s decision,” he said.

“We will follow whatever decision the state exco makes as we are all here to serve the public.”

Mohammad declined further comment but said that he would wait for an interim report on the issue next week.

The state government had taken some initial action, but let’s see how serious they are in settling this problem. As MIC demanded – publish the investigation results, allocate land for the temple, and rebuilt it. I’m sure they will because according to Mohan, the temple committee are Pakatan Rakyat “supporters”.

Meanwhile, another state EXCO, Elizabeth Wong apologised on her blog and provided more clarification. Interesting to note that she realized that the temple was in FOREST reserve, thus falls under the Forestry Department and not MPAJ. Thus, according to her, MPAJ had no jurisdiction to enter and demolish the building. Not sure how true that is. Excerpts from her blog:

The Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government policy is clear:- That no place of worship (whether surau, tokong, kuil, church etc.) built prior to 8 March 2008 is to be demolished, unless and until a suitable site has been identified for relocation.

So, imagine our horror when we found out a Hindu shrine was demolished recently. No doubt it might have been built in a forest reserve or wherever for that matter, but the policy still stands regardless; we begin with the premise that most of these places of worship were forced over the years into this grey zone, and neglected until recently.

MPAJ should not have done what it did and more so, when it is not within its jurisdiction but of Forestry Department since it is a forest reserve. This afternoon, I checked with Forestry officers and (I am somewhat relieved) they were neither involved nor aware of the operation.

This lack of compliance of directives from the Pakatan Rakyat state government is something we have been battling from Day 1. However, this is not saying everyone is recalcitrant or trying to sabotage us, but there were a number of occasions which raised eyebrows and voices. Still, the MB is somewhat very optimistic that we are able to reason and to convince all the staff that ‘our’ way or the Pakatan Rakyat’s policies are better for all.

But not in the above case of clear defiance which reeks of sabotage. Suffice to say, we have taken action on the high-ranking officer who gave the order for the demolition (and who can’t possibly feign ignorance in this matter) and amends shall be made.

(But since I have stated my preference to the Menteri Besar that only one of us speak, as opposed to four, five spokespersons in the past couple of days, I shall let the person-in-charge give the public the details later today.)

The larger picture is this:- Many of these sites of worship have been built in the last 50 years or so (if not longer) on grounds not gazetted or unsuitable for religious purposes. This is due to the practice of town planning based on politics as opposed to needs and foresight. They should not be forced to go under high tension wired places or on river reserves, or in forests and factory lots – they deserve to be part of our Malaysian public landscape (and in fact, some should be considered part of our history and heritage). Which is why I am proposing to some of the local draft plans that are undergoing review to start putting in areas for religious purposes (apart from more cemeteries, parks etc.). At the same time, the process of registering these places of worship is also ongoing.

This issue is not just an ‘Indian’ issue, but one which every Pakatan Rakyat representative, regardless of one’s ethnic or religious background, is committed to resolving.

To my Hindu friends and readers, please accept my apologies and at the same time, I sincerely urge everyone to allow our Pakatan Rakyat government to continue to make things right and to implement just and sustainable solutions to our multiple, long-standing problems.

Its good to hear that Elizabeth talking about the larger picture – we have seen places of worships built due to political interference, instead of a proper policy or guideline. Who wants to go to a temple which is next to a water tank for the “taman” or is next to an oxidation pond? However, we have to see how far such “nice to hear things” are put into place and followed.

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Ampang temple demolishment on national TV

September 29th, 2008
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Well, a temple being demolished seldom makes main news especially on TV. The last time that happened was in Padang Jawa, and we know what that led to. This time, the tables are turned, with MIC as accusers and the Pakatan Rakyat led state goverment on the defensive, being accused of condoning temple demolishment. Add to this statement from MP Zuraida, and you get accusations and counter-accusations. The story of the temple being demolished is covered here and here. In a nutshell:

1. Maha Kaliamman temple in Ampang demolished on 9th September, supposedly by officers from MPAJ, the local council.
2. An state EXCO, Ronnie Liu, told the next day that it was not ordered by the state government nor were they informed about it. The MPAJ president is overseas, so he is also in the dark.
3. MIC, Samy Vellu gets to hear about this two weeks after the demolishment, and one if its state youth leaders, make a police report. MIC accuses the state goverment of not being able to keep its promise.
4. Another EXCO, Xavier Jayakumar angers the community by saying that its a “shrine not a temple” and saying that its not registered. However, he clarified that no orders came from state government for demolishing the temple.
5. MP for Ampang, Zuraida says MIC trying to politicise the issue and says that it was demolished for renovation. This is in conflict with earlier statement by Xavier.
6. Temple committee chairman says not sure who reported the temple causing it to be demolished.

Let’s continue with what happened after those postings.

MIC quickly highlights the confusing statements by PKR leaders, condemning them as trying to mislead and confuse the community:

In a statement today, he said the conflicting claims indicated that the Selangor government was diverting public attention away from the fact that the temple was demolished by state authorities.

“We want the state government to come clean on the matter and expose who had authorised the demolition of the temple,” Samy said, adding that the outcome of any investigation ought to be made public.

NST reported that MIC wants the state government to make public the report of the temple demolishment since there are conflicting statements by the two leaders.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the conflicting statements showed that the state government had deceived the people over who was responsible for the demolition of the Sri Mahakaliamman temple on Sept 9.

“We want the state government to come clean on the matter and expose who had authorised the temple’s demolition,” he said in a statement.

Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin had said that the temple’s committee members had demolished the temple for renovation work, while Selangor’s health, estate workers and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier A. Jayakumar said it was the work of Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) enforcement officers.

“Who is telling the truth now? We demand an explanation,” Samy Vellu said.

MP Zuraida later issued another statement on the 28th saying that her initial one was misquoted. She was referring to her statement that the temple was demolished for renovation purposes. According to her, Murugiah, the temple chairman was in the process of doing minor renovation when the temple was demolished by MPAJ workers.

A part of her first statement is reproduced below:

 Hakikatnya, kuil tersebut telah dirobohkan pada 10 September untuk kerja pengubahsuaian bangunan dan dokumentasi. Pada 11 September, Ahli Majlis MPAJ En. Soorianarayanan dan En. Supiramany tampil untuk berbincang bersama Timbalan Yang di Pertua MPAJ untuk menyelesaikan isu prosedur pengurusan kuil tersebut. Kini pihak pengurusan kuil masih menunggu laporan dari pihak Majlis Perbandaran.

Menurut Pengerusi kuil En. Murugiah, masalah kuil ini iaitu tanpa dokumentasi sudah berlanjutan hampir 19 tahun, malah pernah dirobohkan sebanyak dua kali di bawah pentadbiran Barisan Nasional. Barisan Nasional telah membiarkan masalah kuil tersebut.

I’m not sure who wrote it, but its pretty clear that is says the the temple was demolished on 10th September for renovation work and documentatio.

Xavier Jayakumar later visited the temple and said that temple committee is equally at fault. He was also recorded on camera as saying that he talked to Zuraida and she had clarified that her earlier statement was misused.

The Sri Maha Kaliamman temple committee must share equal responsibility for the demolition of the temple, Selangor state executive councillor Dr A. Xavier Jayakumarare said.

Xavier said the temple was built on forest reserve land and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council was right to take action.

He said, however, the council should have sought permission from the state government before demolishing the temple.

“The state government was not informed of this matter.

“According to our guidelines, local authorities must seek permission from the state executive council before demolishing any place of worship,” Xavier said after visiting the temple site at Kampung Tasik, Ampang yesterday.
He said the council had been directed to submit a report on the demolition but declined to say if disciplinary action would be taken against anyone.

Xavier said the temple committee chairman, S. Murugiah, had also been advised to write to the state government for approval before rebuilding the structure.

He also described the demolition as a small issue.

“This is a small issue compared with other more serious problems affecting the Indian community. Why don’t we look at the bigger picture?”

Ampang member of parliament Zuraida Kamaruddin has denied that she had said “temple committee workers had demolished the temple to carry out renovation works”.

Her political secretary, who was at the site yesterday, said Zuraida was “misquoted” by several newspapers on Saturday.

I still remember my friend telling that “small things will become big things if not handled”. It is wrong of Xavier to brush aside this as a small problem, because this incident is a symptom of disobedience by officers. This problem can easily manifest in other areas. Secondly, this incident is about religion. Anything to do with race and religion is never a small issue.

At the site also was MHS representative, who said that state government or local council must approach MHS before demolishing any temples. He said MHS will find a solution for these sort of problems. This incident can be avoided if MHS was involved.

its quite clear that MPAJ is involved. The next steps are clear – get a report out, investigate who/where/why it happened. Mete out punishment to the guilty party. Anything less than that means Pakatan Rakyat is also like BN. All talk, no action.

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Religion and ABSENCE of plans for Tamil schools

September 29th, 2008
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I’m not privy to the full proposal by the MIC as mentioned by its Information Chief, Saravanan. But I wonder, how do those non-Hindu students be accommodated while Hinduism is thought in the classes, in the name of Tamil language? We complain when our young children are “taught” to “baca doa” or youths forced listen to Islam-glorifying speeches either in school or universities, so obviously its unfair to force others to listen to Hinduism.

One option is to provide religious classes during the Agama Islam period. Only those parents who do not want to the children to be taught religion should send their kids for Moral Classes (perhaps the parents are atheist, or have no faith in the teachers, or are unsure of their religion…whatever). This is a potential logistic nightmare as thousands of religious teachers will be needed to teach Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Bahaism, Sikhism and so on. Coupled with lack of classroom, it will be a doomed effort.

Political wise, this will be deemed as undermining Islam as religious classes are taught in school just like Islam. So, those folks at UMNO and its frontmen will start to protest. Another headache.

So, I’m not sure how MIC came up with this proposal:

The MIC yesterday urged the Education Ministry to consider the party’s proposal to incorporate religious aspects into the Tamil language curriculum at the primary school level.

In making the proposal, MIC information chief Datuk M. Saravanan expressed disappointment over the current Tamil language curriculum.

“Learning the Tamil language is unlike studying the other languages as religion should be a main component of the curriculum.

“Therefore, I urge the Education Ministry to make the necessary changes to the Tamil language curriculum so that young Indians can be taught religious values from an early age,” he said after opening the annual general meeting of the Tamil Teachers Union of Malaya.

Saravanan, who is Federal Territories Deputy Minister, said that one of the reasons why Tamil schools were being politicised was the absence of short- and long-term plans for the schools.

The second thing which alarms me is the statement that “one of the reasons why Tamil schools were being politicised was the absence of short- and long-term plans for the schools”. Now, is this like throwing mud into one’s own face? The champion of the community, the guardian of Tamil schools, is telling us that THERE IS ABSENCE of plans??? What the $%^$&*@$%@^$&%&#%@%%. Yeah, I’m pissed off. 62 years and this is the nonsense we get. Another great job. Why don’t these people do us all a favor and go to the top most floor of a highrise and jump off?

I hope to God that Saravanan was misinformed, misquoted, misled, or mis-whatever.

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Xavier and Zuraida on Ampang temple demolition

September 26th, 2008
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Malaysiakini reports more details from the PR-led state government and a PR MP emerges. Earlier Ronnie Liu gave his points, and now we have Xavier (state EXCO) and Zuraida (MP for Ampang).

According to Xavier, the MPAJ ordered the demolition without the knowledge or directive of the state government. Secondly, the temple is not registered with the state council. He also tries to argue that it is not a temple but a shrine!!!! The size is immaterial. The issue is giving due respect. Don’t tell me can demolish a surau but not a mosque.

“We have a format prepared for temples in Selangor to register with the state but this temple was not on the list of registered temples. And it is not a temple, it is a shrine which it is located on a forest reserve,” he said.

Xavier also denied the accusation by MIC on PR breaking its promise. Instead he said MIC was trying to politicise the issue. (Well, what you expect a political party to do? Crazy fellow!). He says the focus is now to find a way to restore the temple. (OBVIOUSLY!).

“Pointing fingers at another is not going to solve the problem,” he said. “It was actually demolished in 2002 but the temple committee had it rebuilt when the opposition came into power March this year. But they failed to register it.”

So, giving failure to register as an excuse?

Ampang MP, Zuraida Kamaruddin adds more confusion by saying that its was probably a result of misunderstanding between the municipal authorities and the temple committee. How many times have we heard this kind of reasons? Why not just get rid of people who always misunderstand?

The incident happened following a misunderstanding between MPAJ and the temple management on renovation works and documentations relating to management procedures,” said Zuraida in a statement today.

According to Zuraida, some MPAJ councillors had already met with the council’s vice-chief to resolve the matter. Some documents have already been prepared and were under consideration, she added.

She also pointed out that (temple chairman) Murugiah had previously complained the temple’s problems had not been resolved by the previous Barisan Nasional state government even after 19 years.

Finally, Zuraida blasted the MIC for trying to take advantage of the current situation, accusing it of trying to create backlash for the Pakatan Rakyat government.“The component BN party is taking this opportunity to try and restore its organisation and their reports were made to attract attention,” she said.

But Malaysiakini noted that the MP never did explain how and why the temple was demolished. So, she beat around the bush, but could not answer the question.

Meanwhile, the temple’s chairman S Murugiah has demanded to know who was responsible for tearing down the temple. The 37-year old told Malaysiakini that he suspected someone had reported on the shrine and this had led to its demolition.

I also don’t understand the chairman’s comments. If its just documentation or registration problem, surely the MPAJ would have sent letter or warning first. Not straightaway demolish.

So, this is a peculiar case. Who authorised the demolition. Let’s wait for MPAJ boss to answer.

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