Illegal temple? Saravanan debunks the claim
MIC deputy president Datuk M Saravanan debunked allegations that the Pathira Kaliamman temple in Jalan Masjid India is an illegally built construct.
“This temple which is over 100 years old has always been here,” he said at a press conference held at the compound of the temple.
“In 2006 Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) requested to demolish the back portion of the temple that housed the room for the priest to widen the road.
“It was built on a land owned by the DBKL.”
After that, former Works Minister the late Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu had contributed RM80,000 for the renovation of the temple, he also revealed.
Saravanan also highlighted the land status where the land sat was not a waqaf land.
“I was deputy minister of federal territories from 2008 until 2013. The Land and Minerals Department (PTG) was under the ministry. The land was a mixed development plot.
“In 2013, Loga Bala Mohan of PPP was deputy minister and I moved to youth and sports.
“The PTG was placed under the government’s Chief Secretary when the purported sale took place.”
In debunking the notion that the temple was illegal, Saravanan put forth two letters from DBKL to the temple chairman dated Oct 2008 and December 2008.
“If the temple is illegal why would the DBKL conduct plot cleaning works? There would not be water and electricity supply if the temple was illegal.”
On another note he also thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar who is resolved to find an amicable solution to this issue.
The temple is currently under the spotlight after landowners Jakel Holding announced that it would build Masjid Madani on the site.
However it has been decided that no demolition would take place until a suitable replace site is allocated for the temple.
A ground breaking ceremony for the mosque by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled on 27 March.
When asked whether he was open to the notion of the mosque being built next to the temple, he said he would leave that to the present administration.