Temple in limbo as deadline expires
Yoges PalaniappanPublished: Jul 16, 2007 9:47 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
It's up to the Malacca City Council to decide whether the Sri Maha Periyachi Amman temple should be demolished or sanction a postponement, according to a state assemblyperson.
It's up to the Malacca City Council to decide whether the Sri Maha Periyachi Amman temple should be demolished or sanction a postponement, according to a state assemblyperson.
"We leave it to the authorities," said Ayer Molek representative Yunos Husin, when contacted.
He claimed that a group of devotees had met him on Saturday, "pleading" for a two-week extension as they have not found a suitable location to relocate the temple.
"They were given ample time to relocate the temple, but did make use of the time," he noted, saying that a week's extension is a more acceptable duration.
Caretakers of the 16-year-old temple in Tambak Paya village had been given until yesterday to relocate the temple and tear down the original structure.
It is not immediately known if the premises will be torn down by the authorities, as indicated in the demolition notice dated May 24. The city council's building control director Azahar Mohamed was on leave today.
When contacted, however, temple trustee Harold Gomez denied that any meeting had taken place with Yunos.
"Nobody from the temple or the village went to meet him, and neither did we ask for an extension," said Gomez.
Letter to mayor
However, Gomez said Tambak Paya MIC branch chief M Pitchai had met him last Friday.
"Pitchai wrote an appeal letter to the mayor, requesting that the demolition be withheld while negotiations are in progress. He then submitted a copy of his letter to Yunos, but did not ask for any extension," Gomez said.
When contacted, Pitchai confirmed this, saying: "I brought along a copy of the letter and asked him to hold back the directive, but did not ask for a two-week extension. Yunos said he would talk to the mayor and see what could be done," he said.
Gomez also said he has heard speculation that the deadline would be extended.
"We are happy to hear this but we have not received anything in black and white yet, so how can we believe the news?" he asked.
The relocation and demolition was ordered on the grounds that the temple was extended without approval and that this has caused discomfort among Malay villagers. The building is located on private land.
Tambak Paya Umno Youth have placed banners written in Bahasa Malaysia in the vicinity reading "Don't test our patience" and "Tear down this unlawful temple".
Yesterday, special prayers were held in the temple. Some 20 PKR members of all races, led by Tambak Paya division head Yusof Abdullah attended the function.
Some 344 devotees, in a desperate attempt to save the temple, have signed a petition addressed to the media, requesting publicity to stop the demolition.
"We leave it to the authorities," said Ayer Molek representative Yunos Husin, when contacted.
He claimed that a group of devotees had met him on Saturday, "pleading" for a two-week extension as they have not found a suitable location to relocate the temple.
"They were given ample time to relocate the temple, but did make use of the time," he noted, saying that a week's extension is a more acceptable duration.
Caretakers of the 16-year-old temple in Tambak Paya village had been given until yesterday to relocate the temple and tear down the original structure. It is not immediately known if the premises will be torn down by the authorities, as indicated in the demolition notice dated May 24. The city council's building control director Azahar Mohamed was on leave today.
When contacted, however, temple trustee Harold Gomez denied that any meeting had taken place with Yunos.
"Nobody from the temple or the village went to meet him, and neither did we ask for an extension," said Gomez.
Letter to mayor
However, Gomez said Tambak Paya MIC branch chief M Pitchai had met him last Friday.
"Pitchai wrote an appeal letter to the mayor, requesting that the demolition be withheld while negotiations are in progress. He then submitted a copy of his letter to Yunos, but did not ask for any extension," Gomez said.
When contacted, Pitchai confirmed this, saying: "I brought along a copy of the letter and asked him to hold back the directive, but did not ask for a two-week extension. Yunos said he would talk to the mayor and see what could be done," he said.
Gomez also said he has heard speculation that the deadline would be extended. "We are happy to hear this but we have not received anything in black and white yet, so how can we believe the news?" he asked.
The relocation and demolition was ordered on the grounds that the temple was extended without approval and that this has caused discomfort among Malay villagers. The building is located on private land.
Tambak Paya Umno Youth have placed banners written in Bahasa Malaysia in the vicinity reading "Don't test our patience" and "Tear down this unlawful temple".
Yesterday, special prayers were held in the temple. Some 20 PKR members of all races, led by Tambak Paya division head Yusof Abdullah attended the function.
Some 344 devotees, in a desperate attempt to save the temple, have signed a petition addressed to the media, requesting publicity to stop the demolition.
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