MCA president Wee Ka Siong has expressed regret over the riots linked to the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in USJ 25 in Subang Jaya, and proposed three steps to mitigate the damage caused by the incident.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Wee said if implemented, the measures could also prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.

The first measure, Wee said, was to halt the One City development project.

“A stop-work order should be immediately issued to allow thorough investigations to be carried out.

“Secondly, Kota Kemuning assemblyperson and Selangor exco member V Ganabatirau, who yesterday issued a statement blaming a certain religion for the chaos, before amending it to ‘gangsters’ three hours later, should delete his statement and issue a public apology.

“His statement has triggered tension among the races, by portraying a certain race and religion as the perpetrators,” wrote Wee.

Ganabatirau had initially implied that there were other races involved in the temple scuffle, which was aimed at creating racial disharmony in the country.

The DAP lawmaker later amended his statement following backlash from netizens, who dubbed his remarks as racist. 

He has since said that he is willing to apologise if it will help appease the tense situation.

Stop openly criticising the authorities

The third step, Wee said, is for all politicians, especially ministers, to immediately stop issuing public statements condemning the conduct of the authorities, including the police, in the matter.

“Any grievance or disagreement should be discussed behind closed doors, with the said agencies, through government channels.

“You must remember that you are part of the government, as are the said agencies. Interact with them to understand (their situation) instead of blindly pointing fingers. You are no longer the opposition.

“This is also to prevent the enforcement agencies from becoming the subject of ridicule or hatred,” said Wee.

Although Wee did not mention names, this could be in reference to the joint statement by four ministers, and a deputy minister, yesterday, chiding the Subang Jaya police, for issuing what they alleged was a false claim regarding the early morning fight at the temple yesterday.

They said that the police statement initially described the clash as a fight between two ethnic Indian groups, but it was later amended to exempt the race, to say it was a clash between two “groups” of people.

Wee further condemned the attack on Fire and Rescue Department personnel Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, who sustained severe injuries during this morning's riot, and prayed for the latter’s speedy recovery.

The temple was supposed to have been relocated on Nov 22.

Plans to relocate the temple have been ongoing since 2007, after the land it is located on was purchased by One City Development Sdn Bhd.

In 2014, a consent judgment was entered into in court, where One City and two rival camps vying for control of the temple agreed to relocate it to a plot of land 3km away.

One City had also donated RM1.5 million to the temple as part of the settlement agreement.

However, devotees have continued to resist efforts to relocate the temple, which was built in 1891.