Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng did not mince words over Penang Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) Abdul Rashid Abdullah's denial that he had ordered the demolition of the Tou Mu Kong temple in Penang - she called it a lie.

Abdul Rashid was quoted in The Star today as saying that he had merely contacted Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Md Aris Ariffin to act on complaints from residents in the area, and had not ordered the temple to be torn down.

Chong, when contacted, said: "The letter (dated Aug 18) stated very clearly that he supported and endorsed the demolition. He even said it should be done before any untoward incidents occur. He is lying about this (not sending orders for demolition)."

Last week, Chong had exposed two letters revealing that Abdul Rashid and Bukit Mertajam Umno Youth chief Ramlan Ishak had called for the demolition.

Ramlan has since admitted that the letter dated Feb 24 last year was sent in response to the many complaints he received from residents in the area and that it was not racially motivated.

However, Abdul Rashid rebutted his alleged involvement in the demolition of the 20-year-old Taoist temple.

"I just wrote to the authorities to look into the case and to take appropriate action according to the law," he was quoted as saying.

"I did not give instructions (to demolish the temple). It's none of my business, I just referred the matter to the relevant authorities."

He also said he does not remember the contents or the date of the letter addressed to MPSP.

'Conflict of interest'

Chong said that, if Abdul Rashid denies that the letter was sent on his instruction, he should take action against his private secretary Zulkafli Kamaruddin who signed the letter. It was written on official letterhead paper of the DCM office's.

A notice to tear down the temple had been issued earlier, but appeals from Penang state exco Toh Kim Woon and Berapit state assemblyperson Lau Chiek Tuan led to a reprieve until after the state exco could meet.

However, MPSP proceeded to demolish the temple on Nov 17 without notifying Toh and Lau or waiting for the exco meeting. The police were forced to fire warning shots to keep the angry crowd at bay.

The temple, built in 1985, was relocated to Jalan Maju last year after its original site about 200m away was sold to a property developer.

Chong said the demolished temple stood on its own land, abutting the proposed property development.

She pointed out that Abdul Rashid was the VIP who had launched that particular development project.

"He said he acted on complaints of residents in the area. The only neighbour that the temple had were the developers," she said.

"So technically he acted in the developers' interests in ordering the demolition. That's clearly a conflict of interest."