Posts Tagged ‘temples’

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Muniandy Muniswaran Temple Setapak gets new site

August 24th, 2010
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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.

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Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbabhishegam

June 15th, 2010
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From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

The 105 year old Maha Mariamman temple Batu 14 Puchong had its Maha Kumbhabhishegam last month (23rd May). The event was from 10am onwards, but we went a bit early. About 20,000 people were expected, but I don’t think it was more than 5000 during the day.

I noticed that quite a number of youths were involved in the crowd control and miscellaneous work, something seldom seen in other temples. In fact, crowd control was quite good.

Highlight of the day was the helicopter which showered flowers on the devotees.

From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

The interior was quite spacious and nicely designed.

From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

The kodi maram had glass panels on the ceiling to allow sunlight to enter. Similar to Bala Thandayuthapani temple in Seremban.

From Maha Mariamman Temple Batu 14 Puchong Kumbhabishegam

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RM10 million renovation for Klang Perumal temple

May 19th, 2010
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I used to visit this temple few times a years years ago. Its a small temple and gets overcrowded easily during festive seasons. And its quite well known among locals and foreigners.

While I can understand the logic of using granite stones, the amount being spent stumped me. RM10 million can do wonders to our Tamil  schools, sponsor students for further education, or even pay for surgeries faced by patients who can’t afford the bills, like this case of two siblings who need about RM40,000. I would have been happy to hear if the organisers/donors also allocated a million or two for a good cause, and there are plenty of those causes around.

Some times we need to take a step back and consider if there’s a better way of doing things, or is it a necessity to spend for what we intend to spend for.

Now, if I had RM10 million, it would have all gone to education purpose. Different people have different views and priorities 🙂

KLANG: Known worldwide as the “Thirupati Venkateswara temple” of Southeast Asia, the newly-rebuilt Sri Sundararaja Peru mal temple will be the first all-granite, hand-carved one of its kind in Malaysia.

Devoted to the worship of Lord Vishnu, the Hindu temple has enlisted the efforts of 50 stone carvers and their families in Kanchipuram, 60km from Chennai, India, to craft the all-granite temple, costing RM10mil.

One of a kind: Anandakrishnan showing the granite brick that will be used for the stone laying ceremony at the temple in Klang today. Behind him is the gopuram, the only remaining part of the old temple.

The Tirupathi Venkateswara temple in Thirupati, South India is reportedly the richest and most visited place of worship in the world with about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily.

Temple president S. Ananda krishnan, who initiated the idea to rebuild the temple using granite, said work had began last year and would be completed in 2014.

“Stone blocks from Sirudamoor Hill, some 20km from Kanchipuram will be carved. No machines will be used so as not to disturb the living energy in the granite.

“It is believed that Vishnu is in everything and using granite would cause the vibrations of the mantras to resonate at a higher level,” he said, adding that the granite structure follows the precise design formulas defined by southern Indian temple builders thousands of years ago.

He added that the Sri Sundararaja Perumal temple would be 15m high including a dome and copper crown.The first shipment of seven, 40ft containers of pillars weighing at least three tonnes will be brought in soon for assembling, he said.

R. Selvanathan, the chief executive officer of the Chennai-based Sri Vaidyanatha Sthapati Associates – an architect, sculptor and building firm – said the all-granite temple project was a rarity even in India when granite has yielded to concrete and steel.

Philanthropist P. Thiagarajan and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk S.K. Devamany will attend the foundation laying ceremony of the temple at 7am today.

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Yet another temple demolished in KL

February 9th, 2010
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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.

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Temple relocation hampering school construction

January 28th, 2010
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This should be a simple process. Since its for a good cause, the temple authorities should accept the proposal by the developer if the terms like land, relocation cost, building costs etc are acceptable. I assume the temple was there before the land was allocated to the school construction.  So what is the problem until can’t solve this issue since 2004? Is the suggested land near sewerage area or too small? Relocation cost not enough?

Hopefully the problem will be solved soon.

The state Education Department has called for cooperation from political parties and local Indian community to expedite the relocation of an illegally-built Hindu temple to allow the completion of a secondary school in Johor Bahru.

Its deputy director Markom Giran said the school SMK) Nusa Damai was now almost 100 completed except for the school field due to the presence of the temple.

“All infrastructures including classroom blocks and hostels have been completed but due to the presence of the temple, the contractor is unable to complete the school field, which is the last infrastructure to be built before the school can be handed over to the department,” he told Bernama.

He said that the negotiation to relocate the temple started in 2004 but there were no solutions yet.

Markom said he was made to understand that housing developer Nusa Damai had offered an alternative site for the temple not far from the existing one.

He hoped that the issue could be resolved soon as the school could help solve congestions in schools nearby such as Sekolah Menengah Kota Masai and Sm Taman Cendana which had 3,200 students and 2,800 students respectively.

“When SMK Nusa Damai is opened, 600 students from SM Kota Masai and between 300 and 600 students of SM Taman Cendana will be
transferred to the new school, thus easing congestion in the two schools,” he said.

He added that SMK Nusa Damai would have the capacity of 1,600 students while the hostels would be able to house 200 students.

“We hope the issue can be resolved amicably as soon as possible,” he said.

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