After meeting PM, Waytha says temple stays until final solution found

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy has promised that the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya will not be demolished until a final solution is found.

He said that the matter has also been brought to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's attention.

“This morning I met with the prime minister on the temple issue. He expressed concern over the situation.

“After discussing with him, I promise on behalf of the federal government and (Selangor) state government that the temple will not be demolished until a final solution is reached,” he told a press conference at the temple this evening.

Also present were Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran and Selangor state executive councillor V Ganabatirau.

Waythamoorthy also promised to meet Mahathir soon to convey the devotees' wish for the 146-year-old temple to remain in its current location.

“Until then, we appeal for calm and patience. Do not do anything provocative,” he added.

Earlier, there was a tense moment when a group of MIC members questioned the absence of Pakatan Harapan leaders at the temple last night.

Kulasegaran replied that the temple committee had requested that they come today due to the situation last night.

The Sri Maha Mariamman temple was supposed to have been relocated on Nov 22.

Plans to relocate the temple have been ongoing since 2007, after the land it is located on was purchased by developer One City Development Bhd.

In 2014, a consent judgment was entered into in court, where One City and two rival camps vying for control of the temple agreed to relocate it to a plot of land three kilometres away.

One City had also donated RM1.5 million to the temple as part of the settlement agreement.

However, devotees have continued to resist efforts to relocate the temple, which was built in 1891. -Mkini