PETALING JAYA: MIC Youth said today Federal Territory Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor should take responsibility for demolishing part of the 101-year-old temple in Jalan P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.
Its chairman, T Mohan, told FMT that Tengku Adnan had failed to stop Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement officers from demolishing the wall of the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple despite a cabinet decision not to do so until a solution was found.
“Earlier, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has ordered the Federal Territories Ministry and DBKL officers not to demolish the temple.
“It seems like Tengku Adan and DBKL officers are trying to challenge the prime minister,” said Mohan.
He said Tengku Adnan had promised to allocate funds to beautify the temple before.
“But yesterday, Tengku Adnan broke his promise by demolishing part of the temple,” he added.
Mohan was one of the eight people arrested by police after they tried to stop the demolition.
The others are temple caretaker R Nalini, PKR leader P Jayathas, MIC Youth secretary C Sivarraajh, MIC Federal Territory Youth chief D Tharmakumaran and temple photographer known only as Prem.
Mohan said the temple had been issued an eviction notice on June 13 ordering it to vacate the premises before June 26.
It is reported that the eviction order was issued so that a developer could build a multi-storey building.
Political leaders from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat along with temple devotees staged several protests to stop the demolition.
Finally, the notice was put on hold after the matter was brought to the prime minister’s attention and it was decided in a cabinet meeting not to demolish the temple until a proper solution was found.
“So, who made the mistake now?” asked Mohan.
“There will be no compromise in this issue,” said Mohan, adding that the temple demolition was a “Merdeka Day gift” to Indians by Tengku Adnan.
MIC Youth secretary Sivaraajh urged DBKL officers to be polite when engaging the public.
The special officer to Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir said the enforcement officers were rude and unprofessional during the demolition work.
“The officers must respect the places of worship of other religions,” said Sivaraajh, adding that to go into the temple wearing boots and smashing the statues with sledge hammers cannot be forgiven.
“Worse still is they used derogatory words against the temple caretaker who is a woman,” he said.
Sivaraajh said action must be taken against the officers involved in the incident.
