Karpal offers to help stop condo project

DAP national chairman offers pro bono legal services to the Batu Caves temple committee in its efforts to stop the condo project near the area.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has offered to help the Batu Caves temple committee stop the construction of a condo project adjacent to the temple.

“In the event the matter is taken to court, I will offer my services pro bono to ensure a successful judicial pronouncement in favour of the temple committee,” said Karpal.

Last week, the Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam chairman R Nadarajah raised concerns over the proposed 29-storey project to built adjacent to the temple.

The Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam manages the running of Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple in Batu Caves which has the tallest Lord Murugan statue in the world.

Nadarajah said the matter may be referred to the courts if there was no sign of a permanent stop work order against the developer, Dolomite Properties Sdn Bhd.

He also urged the Selangor government to scrap the project.

‘Stop the blame game’

Karpal said: “The state government cannot afford to ignore the manifestations of protests against the project.

“There is no scarcity of land in the land bank to provide an alternative site for the project. In fact there is no reason for the developer not to accept an alternative site,” he added.

Karpal who is also Jelutong MP, urged BN and Pakatan Rakyat to stop the blame game over which party was responsible for approving the project.

Selangor exco Ronnie Liu had blamed the previous BN administration in the Selayang municipal council in approving the project in 2007.