The construction of a row of public toilets in front of Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Tengku Kelana - known as Klang’s ‘Little India’ - has been suspended after coming under a storm of protest.

The 70-percent completed structures have been the centre of a spat between the Klang City Council (MPK) and local residents as well as temple committee members who are unhappy with the close proximity of the toilets to the temple.

raja petra court case 060508 ronnie liu Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu ( left ) said that the project has been put on hold.

"I have asked the MPK to prepare a report on the viability of the project. I will then make a decision on whether the project should continue once MPK submits its report to me."

The construction of the public toilets is funded by the federal government under the Tourism Ministry, although it is subjected to approval by the state government and the project to be implemented by MPK.

Sri Maha Mariamman, reputed to be the most elaborate temple in the country, is a major tourist attraction.

The toilets, apart from facing directly the well-known temple, are also situated behind a mosque and near two churches.

kp samy interview 300108 smug Yesterday, 80 shop-owners in the area, together with local MIC leader KP Samy ( right ), sent a letter to MPK, demanding the council to state its stand on the project.

According to Liu, the local residents are divided over the construction of the toilets.

"The church members have voiced their objections. The temple committee members, on the other hand, are not unanimous in their stand on the issue. The chairman of the temple committee, for example, has agreed to it.”

No other suitable spots for the toilets

klang toilet near mosque temple church 140409 Norfiza Mahfiz, an administration officer from MPK, argued that the location of the public toilets were inevitable as there were no other suitable spots nearby.

But this was disputed by Samy, who said he would propose alternative locations for the toilets at a press conference tomorrow.

He added that one of the MPK councillors had promised him that the toilets would be converted for other purposes but the council had yet to make any official statement on the matter.

estate worker suhakam chairman resignation 080207 xavier jayakumar Meanwhile, another Selangor cabinet member, Dr Xavier Jayakumar ( right ), told community newspaper Sinar Harian today that the protests were politically motivated.

"The protesters, who are mostly MIC supporters, did not object until the toilets were almost completed.

"Where were they during the planning stage when the MPK held numerous discussions on the project?" said Jayakumar, when contacted by Malaysiakini.

This was however refuted by Samy, who claimed that about 50 PKR Youth and Makkal Sakthi members had taken part in a street protest against the construction on Sunday.

"I, too, own a shop in that area. There is nothing political about it." he said.