Xavier points finger at Public Complaints Bureau

(The Star) - Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar has alleged that the Public Complaints Bureau is responsible for the issuance of notice to the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Pekan Bangi Lama, Selangor, to tone down the excessive noise.

He said the bureau directed the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) to issue the summons to the temple in February last year and on Jan 8.

“The bureau had directed the council to go ahead with the summons,” he said.

But bureau director-general Mahani Tan Abdullah denied that it had instructed MPKj to act against the temple.

“My department has no authority to instruct a local council to issue summonses,” she said.

She said the bureau had received a complaint from a resident in Pekan Bangi Lama, who claimed that the problem of loud noise from the temple persisted despite lodging a complaint to MPKj.

“We sent a letter to MPKj enquiring about the complaint made by the resident,” she said.

The temple was first issued a notice on Feb 17 last year and another notice was issued on Jan 8 which directed them to reduce the noise level and cease all religious activities after 6pm.

MPKj has rescinded the notice.

MIC Youth chief T. Mohan said Dr Xavier was attempting to shift the blame to others.

“The bureau does not have the authority to dictate terms. It is very clear that the MPKj acted on their own,” he said, adding that Dr Xavier should release the letter from the bureau so that everyone will know the truth.

PKR Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam said Dr Xavier's statement was ridiculous as there is a directive that all issues related to places of worship had to be referred to the state government first.

“The 22 councils in the state come under the purview of the state government and is he (Dr Xavier) implying that they are taking orders from the Federal Government,” he said.