4 held after scuffles at Cheras temple over demolition fears

 

Some of the individuals outside the temple were seen in a fracas with the bulldozer operator.

KUALA LUMPUR: There were chaotic scenes outside a temple in Cheras here today, with several individuals fighting after claims that the government had tried to demolish the temple.

However, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lin later told reporters the matter was the result of a misunderstanding between temple members and the authorities over a roadside fence.

Four people were arrested, Cheras police said tonight.

A temple member said there had been a stand-off for three hours until Fong arrived and helped to calm the situation.

A devotee, who wished to be known as Yap, said the authorities came at around 1pm to the site of the 60-year-old Wong Low Shen See Chee How Temple, apparently to tear it down, he claimed.

He said devotees and committee members tried to stop them and “during the chaos, some of us were injured by the police, and they tried to force us into a Black Maria”.

A 76-second video posted on the Facebook page of the Wong Low Shen See Chee How Temple showed more than 10 people with sticks running towards a bulldozer, attempting to stop the machine.

A woman is heard claiming that police were assaulting members of the public.

In another video, Cheras police chief Muhammad Idzam Jaafar was seen negotiating with several individuals over their presence.

In a statement tonight, Idzam confirmed that four people, aged between 19 and 50 were arrested. The case is being investigated for rioting and obstructing civil servants from performing their duties.

He denied there were any attempts to demolish the temple and advised the public against speculating on the matter.

Yap had said earlier that the four individuals included two devotees, who are school leavers. “The police took them to Salak South police station,” he said. The temple committee is expected to issue a more detailed statement later.

Fong said the “misunderstanding” had arisen after the temple committee put up fences along the road reserve leading to a piece of land behind the temple.

“After I arrived at the scene, the matter was resolved. I spoke to the OCPD (Izham) to give them some time and space,” he added. - FMT