‘Section 23 or temple stays’

(NST) KUALA LUMPUR: The Sri Maha Mariamman temple committee says it wants to either relocate to Section 23 in Shah Alam or to remain at the current site.

If the 150-year-old temple were to remain where it is, the committee wants the compound to be restored to its original size and also provided better protection.

Committee chairman R. Selvakumaran said six months ago, Majlis Pemuafakatan Ummah (Pewaris) took up nearly half of the compound, forcing worshippers to park their cars elsewhere.

Selvakumaran claimed at a news conference organised by the Coalition of Malaysian Indian Non-Governmental Organisations yesterday that Pewaris slaughtered cows and played loud music while prayers were being held at the temple.

Coalition chairman Datuk A. Vaithilingam said a special prayer would be held at the temple at 6pm on Friday.

"We are looking for divine intervention."

Vaithilingam added that while legal action would be a last resort, the coalition planned to set up a legal caucus to provide advice when similar issues crop up in the future.

The temple was to be relocated to Section 23 but Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim put the plan on hold last week after a protest at the gates of the State Secretariat building in Shah Alam, at which a cow's head was paraded, and after a contentious town hall meeting with the residents.

Residents claimed they were not consulted by the state government when it decided to relocate the temple to their neighbourhood.