YOURSAY ‘Is issuing a notice after the demolition following the law? Shouldn't the government set an example by following the law?'

Ten arrested during temple 'demolition'

Tc: The issue here is that no notice was given prior to the demolition and erection of a wall next to the 101-year-old Golden Triangle Muneswarar temple. In fact, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor's aide R Ramanan said that the notice would be issued after the demolition.

Is issuing a notice after the demolition following the law? Shouldn't the government set an example by following the law?

It is said the temple is 100 years old. Whose land was this 100 years ago? Finally, it a question of respect; respect for one another's religion.

If one wants to desecrate a holy place, it shows how one had been brought up. Remember, the mere fact that some Buddhists meditated in a surau caused detentions, removal of the surau owner's PR and the threat of demolition of the surau.

This country has been chasing out good citizens with this kind of behavior.

AntiRacial: "However, Raman Ramakrishnan, an aide to FT Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, told the temple officials later that DBKL was only trying to erect a retaining wall."

How come somebody from DBKL can do temple wall rectification without informing the temple officials? What a stupid excuse.

Mangusta: I'm surprised. Shouldn't there be negotiations with the temple committee and the MP before any demolition is carried out?

Thana55: I am confused. There must be a clear process, and all parties must abide to it, instead of jumping the gun. Maybe PKR vice-president N Surendran can give a blow by blow account of how the illegal demolition came about?

Black Mamba: If DBKL needs to extend the road due to new development coming up adjacent to the shrine, can't a compromise be made for the temple to be relocated inside the development?

Learn from Mid Valley management on how to protect and upgrade a temple within their big mega mall. Everyone has benefitted from it. The Hindu devotees are happy, the developer is seen to be caring and responsible and the whole shopping mall is bustling with shoppers every day without fail.

I see this as good karma repaid.

Rick Teo: Frankly, I have no sympathy with the temple. If the land is not theirs and if it belongs to the government, then why should they complain if they erect a wall to separate it from the temple?

Ramachandran Muniandy: How old is the temple? Is it being created now or was it created 100 years ago? As the minister's aide has given his assurance that DBKL is only erecting a retaining wall, then the matter is closed.

When the late Ponnusamy Pillay was exco in charge of land in Perak in the 80's, there was a Muniswaran temple on the trunk road from Tapah to Cameron Highlands.

When the government wanted to widen the road, they had to demolish the temple. They gave a piece of land in replacement, but the temple committee refused.

No one dared to move the deity from the site. One fine morning Ponnusamy Pillay went with JKR workers and he started to demolish the whole temple.

There were no protest and no Opposition leaders making noise. We must understand progress come first and don't make it like India, where religious beliefs take preference to development.

Many mosques have been moved to better places to give way for development. Open your eyes and see. Don't get carried away by emotion.

Happy Malaysian: With due respect to Hindus, the location of the temple is not realistically a good one for the congregation to gather. It's right in the busy streets of downtown KL. Roman Catholic churches are now located only in industrial areas, and frankly the one in Shah Alam is opposite Proton.

Thana: Do not be emotional. I work in the area. As a Hindu, get a piece of land elsewhere and relocate. Please take this advice. The surrounding areas are all stalls and shops - not a good environment for a temple. Let us be rational. Please.

M Y Kee: We need to know why the temple is being demolished. I am quite sure DBKL didn't just decide to demolish it yesterday, and then do it today Hope Malaysiakini can get us the story from both sides.

Dalvik: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy, are you going to toe the line or voice out this time?

Exranger: Just to erect a wall? It is really funny; didn't the authorities send a letter to the temple about it and put up a notice? BIG wayang kulit (shadow play) again.

Wroommmbangbang: All temples within the location of hot commercial areas just get ready to move out or be demolished. The GE is almost five years away. Nambikei .

SS Dhaliwal: Indian persecution continues and Waytha is still trying to appease his Umno masters having been bought over by them.

Anyway I have little pity for Indians who after 55 years of being sidelined and victimised, returned to BN having placed their faith on the said traitor, in spite of pleas from other races telling them that they are being manipulated once more. But they never listened.

Has the BR1M you got worth the price you have to pay now? Umno is doing this for three reasons; firstly they think that this is religious righteousness and secondly, the land that the temple sits on is prime land and probably promised to some crony.

Lastly they know they can get away with it because the next election is five years from now and they know how easily the gullible Indians forget.

Besides there will always be another Waytha waiting in the wings to fool these Indians in order to make millions for himself.

KSD: What else did you all expect? Elections are over and the government can now do what it wants for the next three to five years.

Temenggong: Hindraf is temporarily kaput - one leader in jail, the other in the Prime Minister's department. So temple demolitions can now proceed without interruption.

Alfy: Indians, I think we better relocate to a country that respects religions, unlike the hooligans here. It is becoming more and more obvious that the government cares two hoots about your wellbeing.

No MIC, PKR, or Hindraf can do anything from the looks of this. Migrate, no point hanging around an uncaring nation.

James Bond 007: Where is MIC on this matter? If this had only happened in a Pakatan-ruled state, all would be jumping - including Hindraf.

Ieee: Yesterday, we were all told to unite to keep our independence. Today, they demolish a temple. Endless possibilities.

BernieBaby: Is this temple demolition part of our Merdeka celebrations?

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .