Politicians, activists, temple caretakers and devotees gathered outside Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur today to seek the King's intervention into the demolishment of Hindu temples.

At the palace's main gates, the group unfurled a banner that read 'King, save the Hindu temples in Malaysia' under the watchful eyes of the palace security personnel and police officers.

A nine-point memorandum was also submitted to a palace official on the matter.

The group claimed that it had turned to the King because complaints to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall were not acted upon.

In the memorandum, the group urged the King to issue a directive to local councils to stop demolishing Hindu temples.

All existing temples and Hindu places of worship should be gazetted as 'temple reserve', read the memorandum.

In the event a temple or a shrine is to be removed to pave the way for development, there must be immediate relocation and compensation paid by the federal government, it added.

'Only in Malaysia'

Earlier, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Kota Raja information chief Razak Ismail and the party's Federal Territory information chief Omar Tan Abdullah became upset with a palace official.

The official, who identified himself only as Guli, said he was there to receive the memorandum on behalf of the King's personal secretary.

"This is a national issue, so we want to submit this (memorandum) to a higher official, not to a chief clerk or secretary," said a visibly dissatisfied Razak.

However, he later relented and submitted the memorandum to the official.

"Please make sure the King receives this memorandum. This is a serious national issue," he told the official.

Speaking to reporters later, PKR deputy Youth chief S Manickavasagam said the demolishment of temples only happens in Malaysia.

"This is not happening anywhere in the world besides Malaysia. They demolish the temples, smash the deities and bury the statues," he said, while displaying photographs of such incidents.

According to him, non-governmental organisations in other countries are also aware of this and will raise the matter with the United Nations.

Manickavasagam claimed that almost 30 temples were demolished in Malaysia this year.