MIC president S Samy Vellu has banned all Deepavali events by the party's elected representatives as a mark of protest against the demolition of a 100-year-old temple in Shah Alam last week.

The ban would involve the party's seven members of parliament - including one full minister, three deputy ministers and three parliamentary secretaries - and all 19 state assemblypersons. Seven of the 19 state representatives are also Exco members in various states.

Deepavali falls on Nov 8 and it has been customary for all MIC leaders - both at national and state levels - to hold open houses and other events to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

In a statement which was released to the media today, Samy Vellu said his own open house - an annual event - has also been cancelled.

The death of his younger brother earlier this year is also a reason for the minister in not holding an open house.

"MIC is saddened by the demolition of the temple. The demolition has hurt the feelings of the Indian community in this country," said Samy Vellu, who is also the works minister.

Samy Vellu however advised all party leaders to celebrate Deepavali moderately in the company of family and friends.

A sensitive issue

Last Tuesday the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), while tearing down a squatter colony in Kampung Rinba Jaya in Shah Alam, had also demolished the Kuil Sri Maha Mariamman.

A violent stand off ensued when Hindu devotees tried to stop the demolition, resulting in 14 devotees being arrested. They were released on Saturday.

A furious Samy Vellu visited the site immediately on the day of the fracas but he was helpless in halting the demolition, which had been completed by then.

Following a series of meeting between Samy Vellu, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, an alternate land has since been identified to rebuild the temple.

The local population however is not interested in moving out and yesterday had constructed a temporary structure at the same spot to place the deities, under the watchful eyes of MBSA enforcement officers who did not stop them.

The tearing down of this temple is just the latest in a series of demolition exercise undertaken by the Selangor state government on Hindu temples in the state, causing much frustration and a sense of dejection among the Indian community.

This is also the first time MIC has been so vocal against a demolition of a Hindu temple.

The Umno factor

Other observers are also saying that the temple was not the only factor for the decision to ban Deepavali celebrations.

They speculate that the fact that Umno was holding its annual general meeting during Deepavali was also a slap in the face for MIC, resulting in Samy Vellu deciding to just cancel any festivity celebrations by the party.

All eyes will now be on Samy Vellu and his party leaders to see if they would be attending a national-level Deepavali open house organised by the Culture, Art and Heritage Ministry on Nov 11 at the KL Sentral parking space in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.