Johor sultan plays peacemaker in Hindu temple demolition row

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar has taken on a peacemaker role to resolve the issue of the demolition of an 80-year-old Hindu temple in Masai, Johor.

After meeting with representatives from the Sri Sakti Sri Sinna Karuppar Aalayam temple this morning, the sultan assured them that he would personally ensure the state government provide an available site as soon as possible to rebuild the temple.

According to the statement issued by the Johor royal press office on Facebook, Sultan Ibrahim and his son Tunku Idris Sultan Ibrahim offered a cash handout of RM100,000 and RM70,000 respectively to the temple committee to help with the cost of the relocation.

The sultan also urged all those involved in the issue to cooperate fully to resolve this “unfortunate incident” amicably, and that there is no need to blow the matter out of proportion.

The Hindu temple was demolished on Jan 11 by the present landowners who had acquired the land in 1995.

The landowners had reportedly sent several eviction notices to the temple authorities since 2015, and eventually obtained a court order in July last year.

Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin had said that his government would work out the “most reasonable and fairest solution.”

State MIC chairperson M Asojan later told Malaysiakini that the state had offered a new plot of land to the committee for the construction of a new temple, pending the completion of paperwork.

"The land has already been offered to them and all they need to do is to submit an application so that they can shift there," he had said.- Mkini