Kedah MB slams MIC again, says party should know the law

 

The temple which was demolished was built ‘3-4 years ago’ and not 50 years ago, says Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor. (Facebook pic)

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today defended a city council’s clearing of a Hindu temple deemed illegally built amid brickbats from Indian politicians over the menteri besar’s okay with the action.

He said parties such as MIC should know better that it was illegal to build any structure without permission, which included places of worship.

“As a responsible leader, my job is to uphold the rule of law and not to intervene in city council enforcement action,” Sanusi told FMT.

MIC president S Vigneswaran today ticked off Sanusi for asking MIC to be banned if it was found to have incited people to disobey the law. The menteri besar had said so after the party’s strong protest against the demolition of a Hindu temple recently, and the lack of funds for non-Muslim places of worship.

Sanusi said the Hindu temple in Kuala Kedah that was demolished on Tuesday, was built “three to four years ago”, not 50 years ago as claimed by some quarters.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

He said the devotees of the temple were initially “praying at a tree” near the recently demolished structure and that prior to it being torn down, the Alor Setar City Council (MBAS) had served the temple caretakers with notices but these were ignored.

“When these notices are ignored, enforcement action will follow. MBAS was merely enforcing the law.

“The question is, do we as political parties abandon the rule of law when you are faced with enforcement action or turn into heroes of the race so that one appears caring and relevant?

“Does the MIC want future buildings to be built wantonly in the whole state? This is the law, it is not about racism or religion,” Sanusi said.

When asked about P Ramasamy’s remarks against him, Sanusi said the Penang DAP leader was no different from MIC. - FMT