KUALA LUMPUR: An old folks’ home and a Chinese temple association have appealed to Putrajaya to retract the decision to evict them from a plot of land on Jalan Rimbunan Melor in Kepong here.
Yap Ying Long, the chairman of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Lao Yin Kah, and Yuen Long temple committee chairman Lok Seng, said the office of the director-general of lands and mines (JKPTG) served them a notice to vacate the plot of land, Lot 63109, on Sept 15.
They said they were unhappy with the decision, with Lok pointing out that many Kepong residents visited the temple frequently.
The temple only owns a small portion on the 51-acre plot of land on Jalan Rimbunan Melor, while the remaining portion belongs to the federal government.
“They said (in the eviction notice) that if I don’t vacate within 30 days, I will be fined RM500,000 or face a five-year jail sentence. I don’t have RM500,000 (to pay). Just take me to jail,” Lok said, during a press conference with Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng today.
He added that more than 10 individuals, comprising JKPTG officers and police, came to the temple and served the eviction notice on Thursday.
“The big group looked like a threat to me,” he claimed.
Lok added that over the past few years, the committee had renovated the area surrounding the temple by building Buddhist-related statues and a small park. He said many politicians and public figures visited the place.
Meanwhile, Yap said more than 10 senior citizens aged 70 and above, all of whom had no children, were living in the old folks’ home.
“Where can they go if the home is demolished? Let them live here for the rest of their lives.
“Please don’t make them live on the streets,” he said.
Lim said his office would assist the temple and old folks’ home, including providing legal service, in the event the issue was taken to court. - FMT
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