Controversial resort surau demolished

The Sedili Resort management which allowed a non-Muslim group to meditate in its surau expect to complete the demolition exercise today.

(Bernama) – The surau at a resort in Sedili Besar, which was used by non-Muslims in a religious ceremony on August 10, was demolished by the resort management yesterday.

According to one of the resort’s workers, Mohd Kanang Abdullah, 29, he was directed by the resort owner to carry out the demolition.

“The demolition work started at 9am this morning using a bulldozer and  will be continued tomorrow, he said when met at the location.

Checks by Bernama found that only 20 per cent of the structure was left standing, that was the front portion of the surau.

Prior to this, the Kota Tinggi District Council (MDKT) had ordered the the resort’s management to demolish the surau.

A notice issued on Aug 20 carried the instructions that the surau should be demolished within 21 days from the date of receipt of the notice, failing which, the owner would be taken to court or had to bear the cost of demolishing the surau if the demolition was carried out by MDKT after that date.

Meanwhile the Johor police have completed the investigation papers on the owner of resort. Johor police chief Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the papers had been submitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action.

“We are now waiting for further instruction,” he said when asked on the latest development in the case.

The police had submitted the papers to the DPP last Aug 14, but they were returned as certain aspect, including statements that were recorded, were incomplete.

Following the incident, the 45-year-old owner of the resort, a Singaporean with Malaysian permanent resident (PR) status, was remanded for four days to facilitate police investigation.

He has since been charged and is awaiting trial.