Temples unhappy over relocation site

Chinese and Hindu temple committees reject current site located under high-voltage TNB power cables.

SUNGAI PETANI: The respective temple committees of a demolished Chinese and neighbouring Hindu temples on a hill in Bandar Perdana township project site here are seeking appropriate alternative permanent sites for relocation.

Both committees have rejected an alternate site offered by the township developer, Plenitude Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Plenitude Bhd, about 2km away from the main road.

The Hindu temple, Nagamah Kovil, committee chairman C Vijayakumaran, 46, and the Chinese temple, Guanyin committee chairman Lim Kim Hua, 47, said the site offered was unsuitable and dangerous since it was located beneath high-voltage TNB power cables.

“We want suitable permanent sites,” they told FMT here today.

The Chinese and Hindu temples have co-existed side by side for the past 10 years on a hillslope at the border of the Bandar Perdana project site and Bandar Puteri Jaya here.

Both temples were issued a two-month notice of evacuation on March 16 by Plenitude, which had already secured a court order for demolition.

The temple committees were in discussions with Plenitude to identify suitable alternate sites for relocation when the Chinese temple was demolished on Wesak Day on May 17.

The developer’s demolition team was accompanied by a similar team from the Sungai Petani Municipal Council (MPSP).

Inconsiderate act

The Hindu temple was, however, spared from demolition. Vijayakumaran said the committee was ordered by the developer “to move as soon as possible.”

The timing of the Chinese temple’s demolition was condemned by PKR Sidam assemblyman and Kedah executive councillor Tan Choo Kang (in charge of environment, Chinese community affairs and transport) and Gerakan state chairman Cheah Soon Hai.

Tan, who was the mediator between the temple and developer, was disappointed with Plenitude and MPSP for not being considerate of religious sensitivities.

He said that the issue was not one of law and order, but rather of religion since the demolition involved temples.

“After all, both temple committees had agreed to relocate. Moreover, the negotiations were still ongoing to find suitable relocation sites.

“The developer has all the time in world to wait before demolishing the temple,” said Tan.
The site will be cleared by Plenitude to carry out its later phases of the multi-million ringgit Bandar Perdana residential project, which has now been partly constructed.

Pakatan’s incompetence

The later phases are expected to take off only in 2013 and completed in 2016. Cheah, who is also the Derga assemblyman, criticised Pakatan Rakyat for not keeping its promise not to demolish any places of worship in states under its control.

Kedah is ruled by PAS-led Pakatan government since the general election of 2008. Cheah said the demolition of the temple showed Pakatan’s incompetence and lack of credibility.

He said the PAS government had also previously been insensitive by demolishing a Hindu cemetery in Ladang Pekaka, Kuala Ketil, last year.

He also criticised MPSP for being insensitive by allowing the demolition of the Chinese temple on an auspicious day like Wesak.

Cheah, the head of the Gerakan central bureau on environment, safety and quality of life, said that any action pertaining to religious issues must always be mutual.

“The act of demolishing a temple on Wesak Day will only lead people to think that the council has acted with malicious intent,” he said.

Tan added that he would update the state exco at next Wednesday’s meeting on the issue.
In the meantime, he will hold negotiations with the developer to provide alternative permanent sites to relocate both temples.