Former federal territories minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin warned today that the planned demolition of a Hindu temple along Jalan Pantai Dalam would reflect badly on current Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor as well as on the prime minister.
"When I was the minister, I provided many solutions for places of worship, not only for temples but also for mosques and other places of worship. So this is not a new thing.
"If they continue (with the demolition), the bad name will go to the BN-led government or even to Umno.
"It will look very bad on Ku Nan (Tengku Adnan, the current federal territories minister) and even on the prime minister," Raja Nong Chik (photo) told a press conference with the members of the Arulmigu Sri Val Jada Munieeswarar Temple committee.
According to the temple committee, part of the land on which the temple sits on had been sold to a to a developer by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
The temple received a 14-day eviction notice, which expires tomorrow, despite initial verbal promises that the developer will aid in the relocation of the temple.
Raja Nong Chik vowed to defend the temple if demolition work were to start tomorrow.
"If these people come with the tractor, I'll be in front of the tractor," he said.
He claimed the eviction notice was a surprise as the temple and developer have been in negotiations and the developer had supposedly agreed to help with the relocation.
Raja Nong Chik also lamented that the earmarked development would be a high-end one, adding that he had appealed for affordable housing instead.
"None of the Lembah Pantai people can afford the housing it if is high-end, but the government still gave it to high-end people (developer)," he said.
However, Raja Nong Chik stressed that he was not against development or the government, but merely wants to see the developer to keep its word to the temple committee.
Meanwhile, PKR's Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar pointed out that the approval of the development was overseen by a member of Raja Nong Chik’s own party.
"It is crucial for Raja Nong Chik to ensure the temple is protected as all developments are approved through the office of his best friend and secretary-general of his party, Nurul Izzal said in a text message.
Malaysiakini is withholding the name of the developer, pending a response from its lawyers.- Mkini
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