The state MIC has accused a DAP assemblyperson of "abuse of power" by instructing the Penang Hindu Endowment Board's (PHEB) assistant treasurer to withdraw his police report on an alleged theft of temple funds.

NONE State MIC Youth chief J. Dhinagaran ( left ) also lambasted Deputy Chief Minister II and PHEB chairman P Ramasamy for acting merely as a "puppet" in police report withdrawal ordered by Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer.

"Why is Rayer taking a main interest in the theft case, giving orders for the police report to be withdrawn?" Dhinagaran asked at a press conference at the Penang MIC headquarters in George Town today.

"Is Rayer trying to send a message that stealing temple funds that belong to the people is a light crime and can be quietly forgiven?

"Is Rayer the kingmaker in the PHEB, since he acted and seemed more powerful than the board's present chairperson?" he further asked.

‘Retraction not by force'

On Sept 8, a clerk with the PHEB had allegedly tried to flee with RM10,395 belonging to the Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple while the members were busy counting money from collection boxes.

The 40-year old man was caught red-handed and taken to the Pulau Tikus police station, where a PHEB member lodged a report.

NONE Dhinagaran said the board member withdrew the police report the very next day "on the instructions of Rayer" ( right ).

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He said this was the second incident of theft involving the PHEB while under the Pakatan Rakyat state government and that in the first case, RM68,000 was stolen.

Reporters were shown a copy of the report withdrawing the earlier police report during the press conference, in which it states that the PHEB member was withdrawing the police report on theft without coercion from any party.

However, it added, the report was being withdrawn on the instruction of Rayer of the PHEB.

"...I willingly, without force from anyone, withdraw the police report as I do not want to prolong the case to court," the PHEB member states in his second police report.

'Too many politicians on board'

When contacted, Rayer said he had advised the individual who lodged the police report as the latter had approached him for advice on how to proceed with the matter.

“I asked him if the man who attempted to steal the money had been apprehended, and he said yes. I asked him if the money had been retrieved, he said yes. I also asked if the man had shown remorse and apologised for his action, he said yes,” Rayer told Malaysiakini .

“He has also resigned from his post in the PHEB. So I asked the member who lodged the report on why he wants to proceed with the matter. That on humanitarian ground, we should not prolong it,” added Rayer, a lawyer by profession.

Rayer also said that the family of the person allegedly involved in the theft will be appealing the matter with the PHEB.

NONE Ramasamy ( left ), in a text message to queries from Malaysiakini , said he was aware of the police report and the retraction by the person concerned.

He said the individual involved in the theft of the temple money has been "removed".

Dhinagaran also expressed disappointment that too many politicians were on the endowment board, making it unable to function properly.

Other than Ramasamy and Rayer, Bagan Dalam assemblyperson A Thanasekran (DAP) and Batu Uban assemblyperson S Raveentharan (PKR) are also members of PHEB.

During the BN's administration prior to 2008, Dhinagaran said, there was only one politician on the board and he called on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to resolve the matter.

"If the Pakatan state government cannot resolve the issue, we in BN are willing to help by taking over the leadership of the PHEB," he added.