The Hindu Endowments Board has dismissed allegations that it has infringed Hindu public land and interests.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Hindu Endowments Board has rubbished allegations that it has usurped and leased out a temple land for commercial gains.
The board’s executive director M Ramachandran insisted that the 69,717 sq feet land, located near the Jalan Siram – Jalan Telaga Air junction, next to the Butterworth Hindu cemetery, belonged to the board.
Displaying the land registration document and map, he said the land fell under the Butterworth Temple Endowments, which has been under the management of Butterworth’s Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil.
The land is registered under the Seberang Perai Utara district and land office as Lot 2236.
“The question of a land grab or anyone’s rights being seized, board being trespasser, overstepping its boundary as caretaker and trustee of Hindu properties or privatising temple land do not arise.
“HEB never seized temple properties as claimed. We ask the complainants to provide necessary evidence,” said Ramachandran at a press conference here today.
He confirmed that the land has been earmarked for rental to cater for a car wash (5,000 square feet) and second hand car dealership (3,600 square feet).
The car wash operator, G Puvaneswaran from Weld Quay, George Town, would pay RM600 monthly rental while the used car dealer, N Muniswaran from Butterworth, would fork out RM400 to the board.
Ramachandran explained that the commercial activities would not hamper local Hindus from using the land for religious purposes during temple festivals in the neighbourhood.
‘Their right to lodge reports’
Yesterday morning, a group of locals held a protest against the board’s business endevours, alleging that it had infringed Hindu public land and interests.
The protesters demanded Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy to resign immediately as the board’s chairman.
They also called for the repeal of the Hindu Endowment Ordinance 1906 and abolishment of the board.
During the protest, they displayed anti-HEB and anti-Ramasamy banners and chanted similar slogans.
Ramachandran said the board observed all procedures before deciding to rent out the idle land to gain commercial revenue.
He said HEB’s 12-member board of commissioners and Butterworth temple endowments management committee were well-informed about the project.
However, he said it would not be feasible to consult all Hindus in Butterworth on the project.
Nonetheless, he said the board had no qualms if anyone wanted to lodge reports with the police or Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) on the issue.
“It’s their right,” Ramachandran said.
He said the board would continue to allot its land for Indian business operations given that many of them were now squatting on council lands and paying exorbitant rentals for private lands.
“The board will always assist Indian business growth within its legal means,” he added.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Hindu Endowments Board has rubbished allegations that it has usurped and leased out a temple land for commercial gains.The board’s executive director M Ramachandran insisted that the 69,717 sq feet land, located near the Jalan Siram – Jalan Telaga Air junction, next to the Butterworth Hindu cemetery, belonged to the board.
Displaying the land registration document and map, he said the land fell under the Butterworth Temple Endowments, which has been under the management of Butterworth’s Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil.
The land is registered under the Seberang Perai Utara district and land office as Lot 2236.
“The question of a land grab or anyone’s rights being seized, board being trespasser, overstepping its boundary as caretaker and trustee of Hindu properties or privatising temple land do not arise.
“HEB never seized temple properties as claimed. We ask the complainants to provide necessary evidence,” said Ramachandran at a press conference here today.
He confirmed that the land has been earmarked for rental to cater for a car wash (5,000 square feet) and second hand car dealership (3,600 square feet).
The car wash operator, G Puvaneswaran from Weld Quay, George Town, would pay RM600 monthly rental while the used car dealer, N Muniswaran from Butterworth, would fork out RM400 to the board.
Ramachandran explained that the commercial activities would not hamper local Hindus from using the land for religious purposes during temple festivals in the neighbourhood.
‘Their right to lodge reports’
Yesterday morning, a group of locals held a protest against the board’s business endevours, alleging that it had infringed Hindu public land and interests.
The protesters demanded Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy to resign immediately as the board’s chairman.
They also called for the repeal of the Hindu Endowment Ordinance 1906 and abolishment of the board.
During the protest, they displayed anti-HEB and anti-Ramasamy banners and chanted similar slogans.
Ramachandran said the board observed all procedures before deciding to rent out the idle land to gain commercial revenue.
He said HEB’s 12-member board of commissioners and Butterworth temple endowments management committee were well-informed about the project.
However, he said it would not be feasible to consult all Hindus in Butterworth on the project.
Nonetheless, he said the board had no qualms if anyone wanted to lodge reports with the police or Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) on the issue.
“It’s their right,” Ramachandran said.
He said the board would continue to allot its land for Indian business operations given that many of them were now squatting on council lands and paying exorbitant rentals for private lands.
“The board will always assist Indian business growth within its legal means,” he added.
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