A temple devotee in Pusat Bandar Puchong was rushed to the hospital this morning after dousing himself with petrol and lighting up over fears that part of his temple would be demolished by the local authorities.

M Chakragunasegaran, 52, is now in critical condition at the Serdang Hospital after police and members of the temple committee doused the flames, by which time he had lost consciousness.

Temple committee secretary K Dharmalingam, 49, said he was in the midst of early morning prayers at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple - situated in a Tamil school compound - when a commotion broke out and he heard Chakragunasegaran shouting, "Don't demolish the temple!"

NONEEnforcement officers from the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), police officers and men and members of the volunteer defence corp Rela had arrived to demolish a room that had served to store temple equipment, to make way for a pre-school.

After Chakragunasegaran was taken to hospital, Dharmalingam said, the local council personnel went about demolishing the storage room.

He said a notice had been issued on Oct 26, directing the committee members to vacate the storage room for the pre-school.

However, he is disappointed that the authorities did not give them sufficient time to vacate the area.

"It's been 10 years since this temple was built. The land on which it stands is reserve land," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

NONEAnother temple committee member, T Pukalenthy, 42, said the school had allowed the construction of the additional building 10 years ago.

"The demolition was not appropriate. They should have told the temple management earlier," he said.

MPSJ councillor KN Michael Tamilarason said a meeting was held late this morning, involving representatives of political parties, enforcement agencies, the school and the temple committee.

According to him, it was agreed that the demolition of the storage room would be put on hold for a week.

"The school authorities have agreed to give the temple committee seven days to move the equipment in the storage room. The problem has been solved," Tamilarason told Malaysiakini.

Enforcement personnel have put up a fence around the area.

According to Bernama, Serdang police chief Abdul Razak Elias said Chakragunasegaran suffered burns to the body and face.

"The incident occured at 9.30am when 200 MPSJ workers, police and Rela members began the operation.

"A man shouted don't demolish, set himself ablaze and then fainted. He was saved by members of the public," he said.

The police had lodged a report on the incident at Puchong police station at noon today, Abdul Razak added.