Temple demolition: Report lodged against police 'inaction'

Source : M'Kini


A police report was filed today against Klang district police chief ACP Mohamad Mat Yusop for allegedly not acting on "tens of police reports" that have been lodged over a land transfer and clearance works involving the Sri Maha Nagamuthu Karumariamman temple near Jalan Kapar.

PKR's Kapar member of Parliament S Manikavasagam filed the report this morning, a day after residents living near the 80-year-old temple and activists demonstrated against its planned demolition by the ‘owner' of the temple.

"Tens of police reports have been lodged over several years, but nothing has been done," Manikavasagam told Malaysiakini.

According to Manikavasagam, workers for the current owner - who allegedly acquired the one-hectare land on which the temple stands through dubious means - had already broken parts of the roof of the temple and broken or taken down the statues contained inside.

"We're still doing research regarding the owner, but we believe the owner is connected to a local state assemblyperson and has development plans for the land. We believe the land costs up to RM3 million, maybe more," said Manikavasagam.

He said numerous police reports had been lodged since the temple caretaker E Muthu Kumar discovered the land was transferred to somebody else.

Muthu claimed that he had lived on the land for over 50 years and that his father had been given the land by its original landowner.

A protracted struggle

The original landowner, Harbhajan Singh, is said to have migrated to India in 1973 and died there in the 1980s.

In 1996, however, Muthu found that the land had earlier been transferred to one ‘Lin Chee Yong', who obtained in 2000 a Shah Alam High Court order for the land to be vacated.

A protracted struggle then ensued between Lin and Muthu, which saw contempt charges as well as a spate of police reports being filed between the parties against the other.

In 2007, Muthu applied for the Shah Alam High Court to set aside its earlier decision on the basis that the land transfer was allegedly "fraudulently obtained".

Muthu's lawyer Dr SN Pathmanabhan said this claim was based on the finding that Harbhajan's identity card (IC) number as contained in the memorandum of transfer to Lin actually belonged to a Chinese woman residing in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

He also said that contrary to the practice of Punjabis of his generation, Harbhajan - who would have been in his 80s in 1996 - had written in "very precise English".

"The signature, furthermore, did not look like that of an 80-plus year old but that of a much stronger, younger person," he told Malaysiakini.

Pathmanabhan also said the payment of RM850,000 that Harbhajan allegedly received for the sale of his land actually never materialised.

Over and above all of these reasons, he added, was the fact that Harbhajan had died in India in the 1980s but supposedly entered in 1996 into a transaction to sell the land concerned.

A police report was filed today against Klang district police chief ACP Mohamad Mat Yusop for allegedly not acting on "tens of police reports" that have been lodged over a land transfer and clearance works involving the Sri Maha Nagamuthu Karumariamman temple near Jalan Kapar.
MCPX
PKR's Kapar member of Parliament S Manikavasagam filed the report this morning, a day after residents living near the 80-year-old temple and activists demonstrated against its planned demolition by the ‘owner' of the temple.

"Tens of police reports have been lodged over several years, but nothing has been done," Manikavasagam told Malaysiakini.

According to Manikavasagam, workers for the current owner - who allegedly acquired the one-hectare land on which the temple stands through dubious means - had already broken parts of the roof of the temple and broken or taken down the statues contained inside.

"We're still doing research regarding the owner, but we believe the owner is connected to a local state assemblyperson and has development plans for the land. We believe the land costs up to RM3 million, maybe more," said Manikavasagam.

He said numerous police reports had been lodged since the temple caretaker E Muthu Kumar discovered the land was transferred to somebody else.

Muthu claimed that he had lived on the land for over 50 years and that his father had been given the land by its original landowner.

A protracted struggle

The original landowner, Harbhajan Singh, is said to have migrated to India in 1973 and died there in the 1980s.

In 1996, however, Muthu found that the land had earlier been transferred to one ‘Lin Chee Yong', who obtained in 2000 a Shah Alam High Court order for the land to be vacated.

A protracted struggle then ensued between Lin and Muthu, which saw contempt charges as well as a spate of police reports being filed between the parties against the other.

In 2007, Muthu applied for the Shah Alam High Court to set aside its earlier decision on the basis that the land transfer was allegedly "fraudulently obtained".

Muthu's lawyer Dr SN Pathmanabhan said this claim was based on the finding that Harbhajan's identity card (IC) number as contained in the memorandum of transfer to Lin actually belonged to a Chinese woman residing in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

He also said that contrary to the practice of Punjabis of his generation, Harbhajan - who would have been in his 80s in 1996 - had written in "very precise English".

"The signature, furthermore, did not look like that of an 80-plus year old but that of a much stronger, younger person," he told Malaysiakini.

Pathmanabhan also said the payment of RM850,000 that Harbhajan allegedly received for the sale of his land actually never materialised.

Over and above all of these reasons, he added, was the fact that Harbhajan had died in India in the 1980s but supposedly entered in 1996 into a transaction to sell the land concerned.

Police inaction

Pathmanabhan said the Shah Alam High Court had set Aug 27 this year to hear the application to set aside the 2000 court order.

Parallel to the case, said Manikavasagam, his concern today was for the police to address the questions of Muthu and the patrons of the temple as to why they had not acted on the numerous reports lodged on Lin's efforts to clear the land.

These efforts were taken despite the ongoing court proceedings and included efforts to dislodge Muthu, the disconnection of the temple's water supply, and damage done to the gates and other parts of the temple building, he said.

On Oct 1, 2007, a police report was lodged claiming threats had been made to the lives of the Muthu and his family, Manikavasagam added.

"We lodged the police report against ACP Mohamad Mat because the police had not acted on that and the many other reports that had been lodged," said Manikavasagam.

ACP Mohamad Mat could not be reached for comments.

Hindu temples hit by 'cabinet ban'

Source : M'Kini
Image : Net



Devotees of the Hanuman temple in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, have eagerly been anticipating a spanking new structure by year’s end.

Construction work by specialist builders from India have been progressing smoothly, with about 40 percent of work completed on schedule to date.

But temple officials now foresee problems in completing the work as the immigration department has refused to extend the work-permits of the builders.

Worse, the department has given the workers one month to leave the country, and has refused to entertain applications to bring in new workers.

“We are stuck. The temple is only half-built. If these workers go, who will finish the work?” asked temple treasurer M Suresh.

“The department wants us to hire local workers. What they don’t realise, or choose to ignore, is that not everyone can build temples. You need skilled and specialist workers.”

He has another problem - what to tell the devotees who have donated huge sums of money for the temple construction.

This is not an isolated case. Across the nation, many Hindu temples face same problems with the immigration department refusing to renew work permits of builders, priests and musicians.

Its reason is that locals can be hired to do these jobs, a claim that many temple officials reject.

Half-built temples

Temple builder P Malairaju said about 10 of his projects are stuck as a result of this new policy.

“When we apply to bring in expert builders, we submit a huge dossier involving the work schedule and the need for these workers. Only after going through these documents, would the department approve a permit.

“Each worker is given an initial six-month permit which can be renewed for up to five years. However now, at the end of the six months, these workers are being told to pack up and leave,” he told Malaysiakini.

He said the decision can be appealed and an extension could be granted for up to three months, but not in all cases.

He said that he has about nine expert workers at the Hanuman temple and about 90 more working at temples in other locations.

“When we asked the department why the renewal applications have been rejected, we were merely told to hire locals. Why can’t they refer to our dossiers and see for themselves why we brought in these workers in the first place?”

He added that local workers still lacked the necessary skills to build temples and its intrinsic works.

“This is not like building an apartment or a building. You need to know the work,” he added.

He also said that the department has also refused to entertain new applications to bring in workers to continue the stalled projects.

“What is going to happen is that there will be half-built temples all around the country. I pity the temple officials who have to face the wrath of devotees,” he said.

Suresh agreed, saying that even now some of the devotee at the Hanuman temple were blaming the temple officials for “siphoning off the donation and slowing down the temple construction”.

‘We are stuck’

Other temples have been caught by the denial of renewed work permits for priests from India, thus forcing prayers and weddings to be conducted without priests.

The Sri Ayyanar Temple in Jalan Genting Klang is among those in this quandary. Its priest and a musician have been told to leave soon.

“How do we find replacements? Local priests are not interested in working full time. We don’t have enough qualified musicians as well. And this temple is fully booked for the coming wedding season,” said temple secretary A Gothandapaandi.

Similarly the Sri Subramaniam temple in Bandar Sunway is facing difficulty after its musicians were told to leave and applications for new musicians and priests were rejected.

“We are stuck. I fear for the future. We don’t have enough local priests or musicians. The government should have some sense in this matter,” said temple chairperson R Manivasagam.

Officials in other temple committees urged the government to end the ‘ban’.

“Is there an unwritten code to stop the growth of Hindu temples in this country?” asked a temple secretary from Ipoh.

Sri Sivan temple secretary V Palani from Klang said: “Trained local musicians and priests prefer to work on freelance basis so that they can earn more. Temples need full time musicians and priests so that we can serve the needs of our devotees at all times.”

When contacted, an immigration official said this is a cabinet-level decision and that all questions should be directed to the home ministry.

Back to cabinet

Last week MIC president S Samy Vellu raised the matter with the minister concerned, Syed Hamid Albar, who said the matter would be discussed in the cabinet before a decision is made.

Malaysia Hindu Sangam is also worried about the trend and has asked the government to revoke the cabinet decision, which was made late last year.

Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam said that the affected temples were all big, popular and registered temples.

“This sudden decision has caused a lot of unhappiness and had damaged the operations of especially larger temples,” he said.

“We feel that the decision is very unfair especially when considering that there are two million foreign workers in the country, whereas the requirement of the temples for a few hundred foreign skilled workers is not being entertained,” he added.

He also said that it takes many years to train highly-skilled priests and temple musicians.

“Unfortunately, the temples are not able to find locals with suitably high qualifications and skills to work for the pay that the temples can afford,” he said.

Vaithilingam also said the Hindu Sangam is making efforts to meet Syed Hamid to resolve this problem.

This issue first cropped up last December when then minister in charge of foreign workers Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said that there is no ban on foreign workers - including priests, musicians and sculptors - from India.

He insisted that no applications from Indian priests, musicians or sculptors had been rejected, but admitted the government is trying to reduce foreign labour.

"Our policy is that we want locals to take up the jobs as priests, musicians and sculptors," he was reported as saying.

Temple officials, however, say that based on what’s happening now, it is clear that there is indeed a ban in place.

Demolished Hindu temple to be rebuilt on new site

Source : Email



YennaMike Says : "Not bad for someone who has been in the office for only a week"

SHAH ALAM: A new site for the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya, Padang Jawa, which was demolished in November last year has been approved.

Mayor Mazalan Md Noor said the temple would be rebuilt soon on a 10,000sq feet land near the Keretapi Tanah Melayu quarters, a much bigger site than the original temple.

He was speaking to reporters after Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Shah Alam MP Khalid Abd Samad visited the Rimba Jaya flats Monday.

The Hindu temple was ordered torn down by the authorities as it stood in the vicinity of the Rimba Jaya squatter settlement.

The 11ha site in the area is owned by Ken Rimba Jaya Sdn Bhd.

“The developer has been directed by the state government to provide the land and RM40,000, the cost of the building construction.

“It is up to the temple committee and the developer to decide when to start the temple construction,” he said.

Mazalan said the Shah Alam City Council had cleared up the land to make way for the temple project.

Earlier, Khalid and Anwar had a dialogue with the Kampung Rimba Jaya residents and the demolition of the temple was among the hottest issues raised during the 15-minute meeting.

Khalid said the new state government was working hard to solve the squatter problems in the state.

Samy slams candlelight vigil at temples...well before that are those TAFE scroll you presented yesterday recognised...??

Source : The Star
Image : Net



SEREMBAN: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has condemned the acts of certain quarters who have been on a “candlelight vigil” at Hindu temples to protest the detention of five Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act.

Describing this as a “desecration of a place of worship”, the Works Minister said those responsible should stop doing so.

“Hindus do not use candles in temples ... we use the kuttu vilaku (oil lamp). From the feedback I got, (other) Hindus are very unhappy over this,” he said after presenting scrolls to 452 Tafe College graduates here.

“I have been told that the opposition have also begun holding political ceramah at these temples.

“This is not right because they are hurting the feelings of Hindus,” he said, chiding the DAP and PKR for not doing anything for the benefit of the Indian community.

Samy Velly also chided certain individuals among Barisan Nasional component parties for conducting surveys amongst Indians on their support for the MIC.

“I want to tell these people to stay out. The MIC can handle the voters.”

YennaMike Says: Well if people do "Ommom" for MIC" and you that okay vaa...!!!. What is wrong with holding a candle light Virgil (are you being fanatic)...are going to say next that FASTING in the Temple is wrong...??. Well Kuttu Villaku is not small and handy - have you seen one before...??.

You said you got feedback that few Hindu are unhappy over this...well who are they, your cronies...??. Why Hindu Sangam is quiet about this and you are bragging on about this. The truth is The Hindu Sangam have given up on you. Just admit that you are speaking for yourself rather than accusing our Indian community over this dissatisfaction.

Penang Hindu Board 'not BN political tool'

Source : Malaysia Kini
By : Athi Veeranggan
Image : Net


The Penang Hindu Endowments Board has defended itself against allegations that it has become a political tool of the MIC and Gerakan in Penang and that it is acting beyond its powers.

K Kumaraendran rebutted the claim that political considerations have been the yardstick for the appointment of commissioners and committee- members, who manage the five temples in the state.

A commissioner and lawyer, he was commenting on a Malaysiakini report last Friday, in which United Hindu Religious Council president G Mugunthan had alleged there is rampant political meddling in the annual appointments.

Said Kumaraendran: "The board has never been a political tool of the ruling coalition. (Its) commissioners and temple management committee-members have always been appointed based on merit and (their) credentials, (not) political affiliation as alleged.

"They are all appointed by the state governor on the advice of the state government based on their track-record as persons of high esteem in the society.”

Hindu endowments belonging to the hilltop Waterfall Temple - Sri Balathandayuthabani Kovil - Sri Ramar Kovil in Dhoby Ghaut, Sri Kunj Bihari Krishan Mandir, Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil in Lebuh Queen and Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil in Butterworth are administered by the board.

Under the Hindu Endowment Ordinance, the state governor on the advice of the state executive council appoints a board of commissioners, one of whom must be a government officer.

The board then sets up an endowment management committee consisting of members of public professing the religion applicable to the endowments - in this case, Hinduism.

'Orderly festivals'

According to Mugunthan, political-based appointments of commissioners have become a norm since the 1980s.

Even the board chairperson is a politician, he said, referring to former MIC state chairpersons T Suppiah and K Rajapathy, and current state deputy chairperson PK Subbaiyah.

Over the years many MIC division leaders and prominent Gerakan Indian leaders have been appointed as commissioners.

Reliable sources had claimed that Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon has insisted on "his men from Gerakan" being appointed.

Kumaraendran also refuted the allegation that the board had overstepped its jurisdiction.
The board is entrusted with managing the temples and their endowments and to organise their religious festivals, he noted.

In this respect, it has a legal obligation to ensure that religious festivals are celebrated in correct and orderly manner.

This involves implementing measures to regulate tanneer panthal (refreshment booths) and installing a centralised system to control the type of music played during Thaipusam each year.

"Various quarters have commended the board for its actions to bring more order into Hindu religious festivals," he added.

Malaysia moves to preserve temples to calm Indians

Source : Reuters - Asia News

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia vowed to preserve Hindu temples on Monday in a bid to calm ethnic Indians who complain that their places of worship have been torn down as part of racial discrimination.
More than 10,000 ethnic Indians took to the streets in an unprecedented anti-government protest last month, demanding better education and job opportunities and an end to state demolition of temples.

"I will scrutinise all matters concerning temples with a view to ensure no temples are demolished in the future," Works Minister S. Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian minister in the cabinet said in a statement.

"And if they have to be demolished, suitable alternative sites must be allocated so that Hindus can continue to worship," he said, adding that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had ordered him to monitor the temples nationwide.

Hindu activists say one temple had been pulled down every three weeks on average. Authorities deem temples built without permission as illegal structures.

Around seven percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are ethnic Indians, whose forefathers were brought to the Southeast Asian country as labourers by British colonial rulers.

Many in the community complain of racial discrimination, accusing the government of trying to wipe out their culture by imposing Islamic laws and targeting Hindu temples.

Following last month's mass protest, which prompted India's prime minister to voice sympathy for the plight of ethnic Indians, Malaysia arrested five Hindu activists under a tough security law that allows indefinite detention without trial.

The government denies it is mistreating Indians.