Ku Nan insists he's right, shrugs off Waytha's demand

Video | 4.35 mins

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has refused to be drawn into an argument with Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy over Umno minister's interpretation of Hinduism.

"Why you want to pitch me against him? He is a cabinet member. I wouldn't like to be pit against one another," Tengku Adnan told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Pressed further on this, Tengku Adnan skirted the question and stressed that there were people who would take advantage of religion, such as PAS and the Shiite sect, for non-religious motives.

Yesterday, Waythamoorthy lashed out at Tengku Adnan for claiming that the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman on Jalan P Ramlee in Kuala Lumpur was a shrine instead of proper temple.

Waytha also demanded for an apology for the partial demolition of some structures at the temple by Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement personnel on Sunday.

Tengku Adnan: There is karma

However, Tengku Adnan today insisted that premises was an "illegal dwelling" that housed a "shrine" and not a temple, adding that all places or worship must adhere to rules set by the authorities.

"There are a lot of problems with these illegal dwellings. Not only temples, but surau and other places of worship. I'm trying to tell people who want to build these things to please apply properly and we will give it.

"In the case of this temple on Jalan P Ramlee. I never broke the temple. I never broke a shrine. It's just a shrine anyway. And I will preserve to make sure that it is a place that people can still go and do whatever they will like to do," he said.

On Padang Serai MP N Surendran's futile attempts to have the matter discussed in Parliament yesterday, Tengku Adnan suggested that the MP's objectivity was in question.

"The problem is there is karma. They are lawyers. Maybe they earn some money from the people. I do not know. Maybe they would say I'm (making empty accusations)," he said.

Yesterday, Surendran was ejected from the Dewan Rakyat while arguing with the Speaker over the his emergency motion to discuss the partial demolition of the temple.