Cable car project: Nadarajah blasts MPS

A livid chairman of the Batu Caves temple committee lashes out at the Selayang Municipal Council for claiming that project plans were not submitted.

SELAYANG: Batu Caves Subramaniar Temple chairman R Nadarajah today lambasted the Selayang Municipal Council for claiming the temple committee had not submitted plans for a cable car project.

“We submitted the plans on the Feb 3, 2012 and have written to MPS multiple times for a status report, but we have never received a reply from them until now,” he said.

“Only when our lawyers wrote to them giving 48 hours to reply, did they immediately issued a stop work order,” he added.

Nadarajah said that there seems to be an ulterior motive behind MPS’ claim that they had not received any plans on the cable car project.

“Something is not right, we received an order to start work on March 20, 2013. Only then did we start to lay foundation for the cable car project. Then all of a sudden, they issued a stop work order,” he said.

“Why issue us a start work order in the first place if they claim we had not sent in the plan? I suspect it has something to do with the condominium project which we opposed. They are now taking revenge on us,” he said.

“What the MPS does not realise is that the cable car project is aimed at benefiting the public, mainly the elderly and disabled. Why victimise them?” he asked.

“I’ve been given the cold shoulder by the state government and MPS, now I can only turn to the people,” he said.

“Whether or not we take action, I’m pretty sure the public will retaliate if any part of the temple is to be demolished. Let them face the wrath of the people,” he added.

Ridiculous request

Nadarajah also said the MPS was being ridiculous when the temple board was asked for plans and approvals dating way back to the 1930s.

“How can they ask us for plans of the original 272 steps built in the 1930s? I wasn’t even born at that time,” he said. “Other than that, we have proof of every single plan submitted to improve the temple surroundings.

“They gave us a start work order only after we submitted the plans, now they ask for the plans again. Why should we be answerable if the MPS had lost or misplaced the plans that we had submitted?” he asked.

Nadarajah also claimed they were even asked for plans on work that was done by the Tourism Ministry to beautify the temple surroundings.

“How would we posses plans for work we didn’t do? They should direct their request directly to the Tourism Ministry.

“After all, the RM3.5 million project was endorsed by our prime minister Najib Tun Razak and the funds were transferred to the ministry,” he said.

Nadarajah said the temple committee will hold a board meeting on June 30 to discuss the issue and also to decide if the project should go on if there is no reply from the MPS.

“We may even take the matter to court and let the justice system play it’s role,” he said. “The evidence is all on our side, I’m sure the people are with us too. We will wait and see what happens.”