Residents Against Building Of Temple Near Their Houses

SHAH ALAM, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- A representative of Taman Ixora residents in Section 23 here Friday handed over a memorandum of objection over the building of a Hindu temple near their houses to the state assemblyman for Batu Tiga, Rodziah Ismail.

The memorandum was handed over by the chairman of 'the action group opposing the building of the temple', Ahmad Mahyuddin Abdul Manaf, to Rodziah's special officer, Naim Yusri, at her office here.

Ahmad Mahyuddin said they wanted the construction of the 1,800 sq.meter temple, to be built on industrial land belonging to the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), to be cancelled as it was not suitable to build it on industrial land.

He said besides that, the building site, approved by the Selangor State Economic Action Council, was located 160m from a residential area which had 70 per cent Muslims, 50m from a playground and 150m from the Surau Al-Jannah.

He told reporters that the memorandum was sent on May 26 to the Shah Alam City Council and the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) but there was no reply.

Ahmad Mahyuddin said they were surprised when a newspaper reported that Dr Xavier Jayakumar, chairman of the state health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government committee, said the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Section 19 would be moved to a site at Section 23.

He said Rodziah only gave a 'feedback letter' on the temple move two days ago and said she would refer the matter to Dr Xavier.

Ahmad Mahyuddin said before the opposition took over the previous administration had decided on a site in Section 22 as the replacement not Section 23.

He said no public hearing was held by the state government to get the people's view on the move to Section 23.