K Pragalath| July 15, 2012

Sri Muniswarar Kaliamman temple committee wants the temple to be included in the development of the land, not demolished.

KUALA LUMPUR:  Developer Hup Seng has been urged to incorporate a century old Hindu temple in its new project in Bukit Nenas here instead of seeking to relocate the temple.

Devotees and committee members of the Sri Muniswarar Kaliamman temple said Hup Seng should consider this proposal to protect the temple as part of its corporate social responsibility.

“They should incorporate it the way the developers did for a temple located in Mid Valley Shopping Complex in Kuala Lumpur and another in The Mines Square Shopping Mall in Serdang, Selangor.

“They should do it as part of their corporate social responsibility,” said Hindraf information chief S Jayathas who represented a 30-man temple committee.

He also said that temple represents Kuala Lumpur’s history and heritage.

The Sri Muniswarar Kaliamman temple is over 100 years old and  located at Jalan Tengah off Jalan P Ramlee, Bukit Nenas.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had given the temple committee a five day notice to vacate the place in favour of a building by developer Hup Seng Bhd.

The land where the temple currently sits is a DBKL reserve land.

Over the years, Hindu staff from Telecoms and Water Works Department have been maintaining the the temple that serves the spiritual needs of about 1,000 Hindus.

Jayathas also pointed out that the Sri Muniswarar Kaliamman temple is the only temple for Hindus within Kuala Lumpur business zone, also known as the Golden Triangle.

Hindraf de facto leader P Uthayakumar meanwhile told FMT that they would be writing a letter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Phesal Talib to save the temple from demolition.

“We want the land title to be given to the temple.

“The demolition goes against former FT minister Zulhasnan Rafique’s ministerial undertaking in Parliament,” said Uthayakumar.

In 2008, Zulhasnan gave an undertaking that no Hindu temples would be demolished in Kuala Lumpur.

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/15/incorporate-temple-in-development-project/#ixzz20hk8Iq2Y