Temple lodges police report against DBKL

Fresh 30-day notice earmarks Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple in Bukit Bintang for demolition

The 101-year-old Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple in Bukit Bintang was slapped with yet another notice from DBKL to vacate its premises to make way for a development project.

The first, issued in July under the Emergency Ordinance, wanted the temple committee to vacate part of the building to allow for the construction of a walkway by Hap Seng Sdn Bhd.

DBKL officers subsequently visited the temple under the pretext of evicting squatters but dispersed when told by the temple’s legal counsel that the EO was now defunct.

DBKL then issued a fresh 30-day notice dated Sept 15 under the Street, Drainage and Building Act of 1974, alleging it was built illegally. The notice calls for the demolition of the temple.

Subang MP R Sivarasa, one of two lawyers for temple, the other being Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran, said DBKL had contradicted itself.

“DBKL has known of the existence of the temple. The temple exists with their permit. This is mentioned in a DBKL affidavit,” said Sivarasa.

Yesterday, the temple committee president Balasubramaniam and secretary Nalini Rani lodged a police report at the  Dang Wangi police station against DBKL for issuing the notice.

They were accompanied by human rights lawyer and PKR vice president, N Surendran, and Hindraf’s S Jayathas who recently joined PKR.

In the police report, Nalini said that she suspected there was some sort of collusion between the developer Hap Seng and DBKL authorities.

Sivarasa asked: “Who gets the benefit from the notice? It is the developer. What is the relationship between the developer and DBKL? Is there an element of bribery?”

Surendran, meanwhile, announced that a demonstration will be held at the DBKL building on Oct 19 at 11am to oppose DBKL’s decision to destroy the temple.

“Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has cheated the Indian community. The demolition notice is a huge blow and a stab in the back,” said Surendran.

“Don’t touch this temple, or you will face the consequences. This is our warning to the BN government,” he added. “The temple has a special place in the hearts of Hindus.

Hap Seng obtained a court order to demolish the temple in July. However the temple committee filed a suit in August to set aside the order.

The  committte said Hap Seng only named DBKL as the defendant while leaving out the temple, saying it was unfair. The suit is to be heard on Nov 1.

Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple, located at Jalan Tengah off Jalan P Ramlee, Bukit Nenas, draws about 200 devotees weekly and is the only temple in the Bukit Bintang area.