PETALING JAYA, June 22 – Selangor state exco member V Ganabatirau is willing to mediate between the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) and the Batu Caves temple committee on the issue of unauthorised structures in the temple’s compound. “I have spoken to both sides and obviously both parties have their own version of the story.
I hope to resolve the issue once and for all,” said the DAP Kota Alam Shah MP. “I’ve managed to get the council president Azizi Mohd Zain to agree for a meeting with myself and the temple committee on July 2,” he added. The council issued a stop-work order to the temple committee recently on the cable car project, which is to help the disabled and the elderly to fulfill their vows without having to climb the 272 steps.
“The council claims that the temple committee had not submitted plans and other relevant documents on the project. “They also told me that there are safety concerns about the piling work needed for the project near the limestone cave. “The council is concerned that the piling work may affect the stability of the surrounding buildings.
“They are not asking the temple committee to cancel the project, but to ensure that the buildings in the surroundings are not affected by the piling work,” he added. Ganabatirau urged the temple committee to attend the meeting so that the issue could be resolved once and for all. “The temple committee has given the council until June 30 to revoke the stop-work order failing which the temple board may decide to take court action.
Ganabatirau also said it was not fair for the temple committee to go to court without attending the meeting. “If they have proof of the plans and relevant documents being submitted, then put it on the table,” he said. Ganabatirau said this in reply to the temple committee chairman R Nadarajah’s statement that they would take the issue to court if they did not receive a reply from the council by June 30.
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