Cries of protest and police reports have surrounded several local councils over the past weeks for demolishing Hindu temples under their jurisdictions without providing alternative sites.

And when land is offered, concerned groups claim that the plots are often not conducive in terms of size and location.

They argue that these decades-old temples are historical sites which should be preserved and have taken their grouses to the prime minister's doorstep.

The councils, on the other hand, view the temples as illegal structures that often stand in the way of development.

Now the MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu has entered into the quagmire with the hope of finding an amicable solution.

Prompt action

In the meantime, malaysiakini speaks to a committee member of a temple in Kuala Lumpur which managed to evade a similar fate.

According to the Sri Muthu Marriamman temple committee secretary N Narayanan, prompt action ensured the temple's continued existence.

The 60-year-old temple, located in Jalan Pantai Baru, was slapped with an eviction notice in June 2003. The committee's appeal for alternate land was also rejected by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

Narayanan said the committee immediately brought the issue to the attention of Samy Vellu.

He said the minister raised the issue during the cabinet meeting chaired by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Following this, the committee was awarded a plot of land measuring 9,000 square metres just behind the current temple.

"We acted fast when we received the notice. That's why we managed to get own land. It's our luck to get the replacement land within one year," said Narayanan.

Sincere efforts

According to him, there is always room for discussion and negotiation with the authorities and leaders but stressed that only 'sincere and suitable' efforts will make a difference.

On the current spate of temple demolishments, Narayanan, who is also the Lembah Pantai MIC division chief, urged temple committees not to wait until the eleventh hour.

"There's always a better solution but it depends on how fast we act and where we bring the matter to," he said.

He also called on all temple committees to register their temples with the Malaysian Hindu Sangaam as this will prove helpful when facing a crisis.

As for the new Muthu Mariamman temple structure, Narayanan said construction works started in January 2005 and is expected to be completed by January 2008.

He added that the existing structure will be removed by the committee itself before the kumbhaabhisegam (ritual opening ceremony) is performed for the new structure.

Yesterday, Samy Vellu confirmed that DBKL has hit the pause button on its temple demolition operations pending talks with the minister.

However, it could not be ascertained when the talks will take place.

Arrangements for the meeting were made when a delegation of Hindu NGOs - led by Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam - met with DBKL deputy director-general Amin Nordin Abd Aziz.

Vaithilingam told malaysiakini later that they have requested DBKL to consult them before taking such drastic actions.