Sri Kaliamman Temple of Midlands Estate in Shah Alam was saved from being demolished for the fourth time yesterday by the temple devotees.

"We removed a portion of the metal shield they used to cordon off the area. We lodged a police report and waited at the temple entrance until the contractors left," said E Subramaniam, the priest and caretaker of the temple.

K Varatharaju, a devotee of the temple said that the contractors came to the village at 7.30am and started to cordon the temple area with metal shields.

"That will make it easier for them to tear down the temple because we cannot go inside," he said, adding that the contractors have brought in their equipments into the area earlier.

Varatharaju, who is working at the Selangor Environmental Association, stated that there were plainclothes police present at the temple when the incident took place.

"There were about 20 plainclothes police and two police patrol cars were parked in the area," said Varatharaju.

"We don't understand why the police were here. Are they working for the public or for the developers?" he asked.

"Not only that, even Indian thugs came and waited around the place."

According to Varatharaju, the temple was built 50 years ago, when the land was owned by Midlands Estate.

He said that five to six years ago, the land was bought over by I-City Berhad to be developed.

Living in constant fear

"Last year, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) came and demolished the temple twice. They even broke the deities in the temple," said Varatharaju, adding that MBSA has no right to demolish the temple because it is a private land.

"We have been living in constant fear, not knowing the future of the temple," he added.

"There were instances when thugs come here to tell us to vacate the temple."

"We have gone to the police in the past, but they can't do anything because gangsters are involved," he said.

Varatharaju said that 20 to 30 devotees visit the temple daily, and the temple's annual celebration sees about 1000 devotees.

He said the temple committee is willing to negotiate with the developers on the future of the temple.

"It's not like we don't welcome negotiations. There were none," said Varatharaju.

"We just want them (developer) to do it through proper channels. We want them to go to the court, and wait for the court's decision before they ask us to leave," he said.

"If the court decides that we should move out from the land, then we will vacate,"he said, adding that they (devotees) will not hesitate to attack the contractors if they enter the area without a proper court notice.