Kedah MB: No guarantee to not demolish illegal buildings

 

Kedah MB Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor says it's best for the owner of an illegal building to move their structure elsewhere or demolish it without the involvement of authorities.

Sanusi said this in response to NGO Malaysian Hindu Integration and Unity Association, which urged the PAS leader to guarantee that there will be no more demolition involving Hindu temples in Kedah.

Its president V Kandasamy also wanted the menteri besar to guarantee that any targeted temple to be moved to a new location is agreed by the temple management and local leaders.

In a Facebook posting, Sanusi refused to accept the request.

"Nobody has a right to offer a guarantee that is beyond the scope of the law in this country.

"If there are structures built without following the law, it's best that the owners themselves remove, disassemble, or demolish the structures without the involvement of enforcement officers," he said.

Sanusi added that a building owner who obtains approval from authorities does not have to worry as the law guarantees the legitimacy of the building.

He advised that it's important for all parties to obey the law which protects the people.

Sanusi was under fire after local authorities demolished the Sri Raja Muniswarar temple in Kuala Kedah three weeks ago, as it was built on the state government's land.

Prior to that, in July, Madura Veeran temple, which was said to be 100 years old, located near the Alor Setar train station, was also demolished.

The issue was acerbated when Sanusi, in his statement, used the toddy analogy against his critics, notably MIC and DAP leaders who lambasted Sanusi over the temple demolition issue.

He had suggested that his critics were "drunk on the toddy of popularity" and advised them not to act as if they are "drunk on three bottles" after consuming only one bottle.

MIC deputy president M Saravanan, who is also the Human Resources minister, had accused Sanusi of breaking his promise to inform him and the National Unity minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique before demolishing the temple in Kuala Kedah.

Meanwhile, Kandasamy urged Sanusi to apologise to the Hindu community for abolishing the temple and for his disrespectful remarks to the community.

The Malaysian Insight quoted Kandasamy as saying that he urged the Kedah Sultan and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to take appropriate action against Sanusi. - Mkini