Temple demolition: Why only in BN states?

Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy says temple demolitions stab at the heart and identity of Hindus in the country.

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy has labelled the Umno-led federal government as extremist and insensitive to Hindus following the recent demolition of a Hindu temple here.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman temple at Jalan P Ramlee, in the heart of city’s golden triangle, Ramasamy said: “I am utterly disappointed and sad looking at the condition of the temple.

“How can FT Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor say that he’s beautifying the temple when it looks in a despair state.”

He also questioned Work Minister Fadhillah Yusof’s silence and inaction to re-building the demolished temple.

The DAP leader also slammed the government for not respecting the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

He further hit out at MIC president G Palanivel for denying the demolition of the temple and not for championing Indian issues.

He accused MIC of bowing to their Umno master’s’ policies and directives.

During the demolition of the temple, Ramasamy said he was in a conference in Mauritius and had cited the issue to the audience.

He also pointed out that since Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang in 2008, the state never experienced such temple demolition issues.

“Why do the temple issues arise at states governed by the Barisan Nasional government?,” asked Ramasamy.

Ramasamy reiterated that they will defend this temple issue until a solution is found and will highlight this matter in the next DAP CEC meeting.

Promises not kept

Ramasamy also trained his gun at Deputy FT Minister J Loga Bala Mohan for not keeping the promises made during the initial discussion about the temple.

On Nov 9, around 300 DBKL enforcement officers and police demolished the temple without a proper notice, creating a furore among the Indians in the country.

The temple was issued an eviction notice on June 13, ordering it to vacate the premises before June 26, in order to make way for development.

However, political leaders from both BN and Pakatan along with temple devotees staged several protests to stop the demolition.

The notice was put on hold after the matter was brought to the prime minister’s attention who had ordered the demolition to be stayed until a proper solution was found.