A RM5 million allocation to the Selayang Municipal Council for the Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu temple at Batu Caves to build a cultural centre has come into question with Keadilan Youth lodging a report over it today.

PKR Youth deputy head M Manikavasagam, who made the report at the Selayang police headquarters, named Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, the municipal council and Sri Maha Mariamman temple committee president R Nadarajah as parties the police should investigate in relation to the allocation.

"We named (Mohd) Khir Toyo specifically in the report because it was him who made the announcement in 2004 that the RM5 million would be going to a cultural centre for the temple," said Manikavasagam.

Mohd Khir was quoted in media reports in February last year that the Selangor state government would set-up a cultural centre on a 10 hectare site near the Batu Caves temple to showcase Indian Malaysian religion, art, culture and history.

Manikavasagam said his report was prompted by a television news report last week which interviewed Nadarajah who claimed that the temple had only received RM480,000 of the RM5 million so far.

Embezzlement charge

"Nadarajah admitted on national television that he doesn't know where the balance RM4.52 million is. The Selayang Municipal council says the money has been distributed. Therefore, I am urging the police to investigate this thoroughly," said Manikavasagam.

"It's public funds and must be accounted for. We have received numerous complaints from the public and we believe there is embezzlement in this case.

"The fact that there are contradictory claims by all parties involved raises more suspicion," he added.

Nadarajah was unavailable for comment.