The PAS-led Terengganu state government was today urged to officially revoke the controversial acquisition of the site of a century-old Chinese temple.

MCA Terengganu state liaison committee deputy chief Wong Foon Meng said the Chinese community would o­nly be satisfied when the gazette o­n the proposal to acquire the land belonging to the Terengganu Hainanese Association is nullified.

"It should be de-gazetted. o­nly then can the people sleep in peace," he said when contacted.

The land, which included the 108-year-old Thean Hou Temple, was being secured by the state government for a federal project to beautify and upgrade the area along Sungai Terengganu.

Yesterday PAS executive councillor Anuar Tan told malaysiakini that the issue was a mere " technical misunderstanding " as the state government had no knowledge of the temple's existence when it issued the gazette.

He gave his assurance to the local Hainanese community that the temple would not demolished.

Explanation not accepted

Refusing to accept Anuar's explanation, Wong said that the state government cannot push the blame for the acquisition of the temple land o­n the federal government.

"How can they put the blame o­n the federal government when it is a state project. This project is o­nly funded by the federal government through the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry - the concept planning and the acquisition of land are all under the state's jurisdiction," he said.

Wong also pointed out that when the original project plan was made by Terengganu in the early 1990s - then under Barisan Nasional - it was specifically stated that the temple would not be disturbed.

Responding to Anuar's claim that MCA was sensationalising the issue, Wong said acquisition of the temple was a very serious matter and the public have the right to know.

"We just want to make the issues known to the public so that they are not confused by the misleading statements by PAS leaders.

"If MCA had not found out about the gazette and made it known to the Hainanese Association, the land would have been acquired," he said.

Not parties to dispute

Meanwhile, Anuar insisted that Terengganu was merely assisting the federal government in the acquisition of the land.

"This is proven by the statement by Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir ( photo ) who ordered that the beautification work not to disturb the temple. This has been reported in the Chinese paper Sin Chew Daily ," he said.

Asked if he would meet the MCA Terengganu state representatives to discuss the controversy, Anuar said that there was no reason for him to do so as they are not parties to the dispute.

"They tried to put total blame o­n the state although this is a federal government project under the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism. They are trying to manipulate the issue to work against PAS. They want to create disharmony among the people there," he said.

Kuala Terengganu Municipal Council (MPKT) president Dr Sulaiman Abdullah said the council is o­nly the facilitator of the federal project.

"I was told that the project was initiated by the (Culture, Arts and Tourism) minister himself. The project consultant has submitted a report to the ministry and is waiting for approval. Nothing has been finalised yet so there is nothing to worry," he said.

He said he would consider the memorandum submitted by the temple's committee and will discuss with them to reach an amicable settlement.

"In the meantime, I urge all parties not to sensationalise the issue as it would o­nly lead to unnecessary conflicts," he said.