Temple can still appeal to postpone move, says Dr M

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the relocation of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Seafield, Subang Jaya, can still be postponed if the matter is taken to the Court of Appeal.

This follows the Shah Alam High Court’s decision earlier today, rejecting a bid to postpone the relocation of the temple which has been the scene of violent clashes following a mob attack by an unknown group on Monday.

“We have three layers of courts,” Mahathir said, referring to the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

“If the first layer makes a decision, you can appeal to the second, and then you can appeal to the third. Finally, if the third layer says something, that is final,” he added in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

The prime minister said the issue began as the temple committee had refused to move for the past three years despite receiving the green light from a court.

He said matters escalated further when a group of Malays were sent to cause trouble at the temple.

“For three years, they refused. According to the courts, the developer has the right, so I believe the developer was trying to move the temple by themselves. In the process, they used Malays.

“We don’t ask Malays to protect a Hindu temple, just like we don’t ask Hindus to protect mosques. This incident happened as a result of that. But we are still bound by the decision of the court,” he said.

Mahathir added that action would be taken against the landowner, One City Development, if it was found guilty of going against the law.

“If there is any law that is broken, the rule of law will apply,” he said.

He also reiterated that such issues would not be allowed to recur.

“When the owner claims (the land), there is a problem. So in the future, all places of worship must first get the permission of the state government before they can be built,” he said.

The prime minister denied claims that the federal government was trying to procure the land, saying Putrajaya had no right to it as it was a state matter.

He said the state government was free to do so if it wished, or if it was able to take back the land. - FMT