Hindraf and MCA Youth have joined hands to urge Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to prevent the demolition of the 63-year-old Hock Sui Tong Taoist temple in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.
Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar and MCA Youth vice-chief Tan Kok Eng led some 40 devotees to submit a memorandum to DBKL this morning.
The pair, who claim to represent about 1,000 devotees, also sought an immediate appointment with Mayor Amin Nordin Abd Aziz to seek a solution.
“I hope the Federal Territories Ministry and DBKL will intervene as this concerns religion, which is a sensitive issue,” Tan told reporters later.
Uthayakumar, on the other hand, urged Kepong Development Sdn Bhd to fulfill their social corporate responsibility by providing a proper solution, which is to relocate the temple instead of demolishing it.
“They previously relocated 526 residents from this land to a low-cost flat but the temple is not given any land for relocation,” he added.
Uthayakumar said the ideal solution would be to allow the temple remain at its current location.
“If it is really in the way of development, we are willing to negotiate with the developer to move the temple. There must be a permanent land and permanent temple, which is what the people (devotees) want,” he added.
The Hindraf leader said demolishing the temple would be a violation of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, which ensures freedom of religion.
Meanwhile, Tan said a discussion should take place between the temple authorities and the developer.
“We are willing to compromise if the developer gives a good offer or compensation instead of giving us a summon without prior discussion,” he added.
Former deputy home minister Tan Chai Ho and 168 devotees have applied to be defendants in a suit filed by the developer on Dec 9 last year.
The matter would be heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court next Tuesday. - Mkini
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