Man apologises for harsh words at temple during protest

Nor Azman Mohamad says protest had nothing to do with race or religion.

SHAH ALAM: The individual who led a noisy protest to clear a junkyard of scrap metal has apologised on behalf of the people of Taman Melati and Taman Teratai here if the protest had in any way hurt the feelings of some members of the community.

This follows a video that went viral over WhatsApp and Facebook showing a group shouting “Roboh! Roboh!” (“Demolish! Demolish!”), and urging the authorities to demolish a junkyard and temple located on a parcel of land in Taman Melati.

Nor Azman Mohamad, head of the committee for the residents there, said the main purpose of the protest was to complain about the land being used illegally to store scrap metal. The protestors also complained about the presence of stray dogs there that they said posed a danger to children in the neighbourhood.

He also said he was sorry if some members of the group used harsh words against the individuals at the temple.

Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) councillor Shakir Ameer, who represents the area, said the issue had nothing to do with race or religion.

He explained that the temple did not have a building permit and that the scrapyard located on the same parcel of land, was also illegal.

Shakir said the council held an operation last year to clear up the place, but those involved had moved the scrapyard 100 metres away from the previous spot and proceeded to build a temple there.

He said there was an understanding with the police, MBSA, Sime Darby and Tenaga Nasional that the land was to be left vacant as high-tension electric cables would be passing through the land for an electrification project in the future.

“The land used to be under Guthrie but now it comes under the Selangor state government,” he said during a press conference here in Denai Alam today.

Shakir said despite several notices sent to the scrapyard owners to vacate the land, they had chosen to stay put.

He urged the scrapyard owners to move their business elsewhere, as an operation may be conducted within the next two weeks to clear the land for good. -FMT