Waytha to Ku Nan: You've no business in Hindu affairs

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia chairperson P Waythamoorthy has lambasted Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor for defending the demolition at the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman temple, saying Tengku Adnan has “no business in interpreting what amounts to a shrine or temple”.

Coming out of his long silence, Waythamoorthy (left), who is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said Tengku Adnan has "no business to issue public statement on matters pertaining to the Hindu religion".

"As a federal minister he should respect the feelings and sensitivities of Hindus, instead of justifying an unconscionable act by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)."

Waythamoorthy was referring to  Tengku Adnan's statement yesterday that he ordered DBKL to go ahead with a plan to seize back state land after surveying the temple, located along Jalan P Ramlee, in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

The federal minister claimed that only a handful of devotees had gone to the temple during Deepavali last month and a Hindu priest, who was sent to scout the temple, found that it was not up to Hindu specifications and alleged bottles of liquor were kept there.

He further claimed that the structure in question was a "shrine" and not  a "temple", as proper Hindu practices were not incorporated into its construction, such as the lack of a water source.

The temple's legal adviser hs since rubbished the allegations of the minister that it was used for shady activities and liquor was found on site.

In a second such sting operation in three months, DBKL officers on Nov 10 destroyed the annexes of the temple to seize back a slither of land for developer Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd for its skyscraper next to the temple.

'Ku Nan must apologise over demolition'

In his statement today, Waythamoorthy demanded an apology from Tengku Adnan (right) for the demolition.

"Having demolished the temple, it is a double insult to say it was demolished to beautify and make it a tourist attraction.

"It has also come to our attention that the DBKL under Tengku Adnan has issued more than 20 other demolition orders," Waythamoorthy claimed.

"These temples should have been either given land titles during the colonial period or they should have been gazetted as Hindu temples by the government upon achieving independence in 1957. Both were not done, hence the problems faced today."

He urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to stick to his promise to Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia to help find a permanent and comprehensive solution to the long-standing problems of the Indian community.

Ironically, it was Tengku Adnan, who is also BN secretary, who was a witness to the signing of the pact between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Waythamoorthy's association in April, during the 13th general election campaign periodl.

The pact later thrust Waythamoorthy from a grassroots leader to being made a senator and given a deputy minister's post, after BN retained power in Putrajaya.