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Saturday, 22 August 2009

Temple Relocation Decision Not Made By Individual - Jayakumar

SHAH ALAM, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Selangor state executive councillor Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar said Thursday he was not the only person who decided on the relocation of the Sri Maha Mariaman Temple from Section 19 to Section 23 here.

The chairman of the Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Committee said in a statement that the Selangor Non-Muslim Houses of Worship Committee was jointly chaired by three state executive councillors including him and not by him alone as was reported in the media recently.

The committee also comprised representatives from the land and district offices, the local authorities, the Land and Mines Office, the Selangor State Development Corporation or owners of the property, non-governmental organisations (religious) and the temple or house of worship committee involved, he said.

The respective state assemblyman and member of parliament and the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department also sat on the committee, he added.

On the relocation of the temple from Section 19 to Section 23, which was opposed by the local residents, Dr Jayakumar said a series of meetings was held with the relevant quarters before any decision was taken.

"The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) subsequently brought the proposal paper on the relocation of the temple from Section 19 to Section 23 to a meeting of the Selangor Economic Action Council, which was attended also by the State Secretary (Datuk Ramli Mahmud), State Financial Officer (Datuk Mohd Ariff Ab Rahman) and State Legal Advisor (Datuk Zauyah T. Loth Khan)," he said.

Dr Jayakumar said all the 10 state executive councillors, including Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, also discussed the matter at the meeting of the Selangor Economic Action Council which subsequently approved the proposal paper.

"I wish to explain here that the decision was a consensus decision and not made by one individual as reported," he said.

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