End in sight to turbulent Hindu temple tale
Hazlan ZakariaPublished: Mar 30, 2011 5:59 AM | Updated: Mar 30, 2011 6:34 AM
After a drawn-out battle, a peaceful resolution is in store for the century-old Sri Mariamman temple, once located in Section 19, Shah Alam, but which is being moved to a new location.
After a drawn-out battle, a peaceful resolution is in store for the century-old Sri Mariamman temple, once located in Section 19, Shah Alam, but which is being moved to a new location.
Sri Andalas assemblyperson Dr Xavier Jayakumar said today the new building has been constructed.
It will now take about two months for the temple committee to move the statues, carvings and items of worship, and to consecrate the new site, he told reporters in the lobby of the Selangor legislature.
The new site is in the Section 23 industrial zone, well away from residential areas.
The site was carefully chosen after the initial plan to relocate the temple near a residential area found bristling opposition from some quarters.
This had culminated in the infamous 'cow-head' protest a few days before Merdeka Day in 2009 which made headlines not only in Malaysia, but around the world.
Tensions had been simmering even before the protest, arising from the fact that a Muslim-majority neighbourhood had grown around the temple, which was established in 1903.
Auxiliary police force
Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, meanwhile, expanded on the state government’s attempts to create an auxiliary police force.
Replying to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR-Seri Setia) during the state assembly sitting today, Khalid said his administration will continue to press the Home Ministry for clearance, in the face of continued refusal to authorise the move.
"(Allowing the state to recruit) auxiliary police should have been part of the Home Ministry’s NKRA (national key result areas) to reduce crime and (as part of) the development policy in the Klang Valley, to ensure the safety and comfort of residents," Khalid (right) argued.
He said the state government is not trying to hijack the duties of the police, but is trying to provide assistance.
This is particularly because the Home Ministry had recently told Parliament that 50,000 more police officers are required for the force to operate at optimum strength.
Sri Andalas assemblyperson Dr Xavier Jayakumar said today the new building has been constructed.It will now take about two months for the temple committee to move the statues, carvings and items of worship, and to consecrate the new site, he told reporters in the lobby of the Selangor legislature.
The new site is in the Section 23 industrial zone, well away from residential areas.
The site was carefully chosen after the initial plan to relocate the temple near a residential area found bristling opposition from some quarters.
This had culminated in the infamous 'cow-head' protest a few days before Merdeka Day in 2009 which made headlines not only in Malaysia, but around the world.
Tensions had been simmering even before the protest, arising from the fact that a Muslim-majority neighbourhood had grown around the temple, which was established in 1903.
Auxiliary police force
Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, meanwhile, expanded on the state government’s attempts to create an auxiliary police force.
Replying to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR-Seri Setia) during the state assembly sitting today, Khalid said his administration will continue to press the Home Ministry for clearance, in the face of continued refusal to authorise the move.
"(Allowing the state to recruit) auxiliary police should have been part of the Home Ministry’s NKRA (national key result areas) to reduce crime and (as part of) the development policy in the Klang Valley, to ensure the safety and comfort of residents," Khalid (right) argued.He said the state government is not trying to hijack the duties of the police, but is trying to provide assistance.
This is particularly because the Home Ministry had recently told Parliament that 50,000 more police officers are required for the force to operate at optimum strength.
View Comments0