SHAH ALAM – The Selangor government has assured that the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Putra Heights, will not be demolished or relocated until a comprehensive solution is achieved.
Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the state government was also willing to be the “middleman” in resolving the dispute over the relocation of the temple.
“Until a comprehensive solution is reached, I am giving the assurance that there will be no demolition of the temple,” he told a press conference at the lobby of the Dewan Annex Negeri Selangor, here today.
He said the state government would also take into account the court’s decision in seeking solutions to the issue.
“The Selangor state government is willing to mediate or initiate discussions with all concerned parties to ensure an amicable solution. There are several options proposed to the state government by other parties to resolve this temple issue in a thorough manner,” added Amirudin.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy, Human Resource Minister M. Kula Segaran and Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar.
Amirudin, however, said the relevant parties including developers and members of the temple committee did not trigger or cause any commotion in the temple area before the decision was made.
“I am placing some conditions – after this, there will be no assemblies or any provocation, also all relevant parties must follow the instructions from the state government to ensure peace in the area,” he said.
He added that talks were expected to commence after the current state assembly sitting or at the latest, by Tuesday, with all parties concerned to find a comprehensive solution to the issue.
Amirudin said the discussions could be carried out in two ways – at the same table with all relevant parties, or separately.
“Through the discussions, the state government will also offer a number of options to the parties involved to ensure the dispute over the temple relocation can be resolved immediately,” he said.
In SEREMBAN, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun said the state government would adopt the same approach taken by the federal government where it comes to building of houses of worship so as to avoid a repeat of what happened in Putra Heights.
The federal government has instructed that building of houses of worship must have the approval of the respective local authority.
— BERNAMA
