Bangi assemblyperson Mohd Shafie Ngah has denied suggesting the relocation of a Hindu temple on the basis of protecting the sensitivity of the local Muslim community.
"I didn't say that," he told Malaysiakiniin a text message yesterday.
Shafie (left) said this when asked to comment on the report in The Staryesterday that he wanted the Sri Maha Karu Mariamman to be moved.
The suggestion, The Star reported, was made in a letter to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, and the report cites "several reasons, such as the location, size of the land as well as sensitivity of the Muslim community around the area" as the rationale.
The temple committee has reportedly objected to the move and said the reasons given are unreasonable, and is slated to start foundation works for its new building next week.
Shafie explained that while he did suggest that the temple, located off Persiaran Bangi, Kajang, be relocated, he did this for other reasons.
He also dismissed the temple's claim of being 125 years old as untrue.
Shafie said the temple had been moved from a previous location to the current site around 1993 or 1994, and now sits next to a sewage treatment plant.
The new land that is gazetted to the temple in 2010 is next to the temple's current location.
"The location is not suitable, in my observation… I suggested to the state government to find a new site for them – a place that is more comfortable and safe," he said.
In addition, Shafie said he found that the temple's location is unsuitable because it is near TNB high-voltage power lines, and sits next to a road that is undergoing widening.
The nearby roundabout is also heavily clogged with traffic daily, he said.
Previously, The Staralso quoted Selangor non-Islamic affairs committee chairperson Teng Chang Kim (right) as saying that the state government would not be entertaining any request for the temple's relocation unless it came from the temple committee itself.
"The request has to come from the temple committee because the land is gazetted. The state will not entertain requests from others," Teng was quoted as saying.
"I didn't say that," he told Malaysiakiniin a text message yesterday.Shafie (left) said this when asked to comment on the report in The Staryesterday that he wanted the Sri Maha Karu Mariamman to be moved.
The suggestion, The Star reported, was made in a letter to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, and the report cites "several reasons, such as the location, size of the land as well as sensitivity of the Muslim community around the area" as the rationale.
The temple committee has reportedly objected to the move and said the reasons given are unreasonable, and is slated to start foundation works for its new building next week.
Shafie explained that while he did suggest that the temple, located off Persiaran Bangi, Kajang, be relocated, he did this for other reasons.
He also dismissed the temple's claim of being 125 years old as untrue.
Shafie said the temple had been moved from a previous location to the current site around 1993 or 1994, and now sits next to a sewage treatment plant.
The new land that is gazetted to the temple in 2010 is next to the temple's current location.
"The location is not suitable, in my observation… I suggested to the state government to find a new site for them – a place that is more comfortable and safe," he said.
In addition, Shafie said he found that the temple's location is unsuitable because it is near TNB high-voltage power lines, and sits next to a road that is undergoing widening.
The nearby roundabout is also heavily clogged with traffic daily, he said.Previously, The Staralso quoted Selangor non-Islamic affairs committee chairperson Teng Chang Kim (right) as saying that the state government would not be entertaining any request for the temple's relocation unless it came from the temple committee itself.
"The request has to come from the temple committee because the land is gazetted. The state will not entertain requests from others," Teng was quoted as saying.
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