Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail has assured the Malaysian Hindu community of acting on the recent complaints over temple demolitions - once he gets hold of the investigation papers.

"I have already called for the IP (investigation papers) but there has been no response, so the only thing I can do is wait for the report from the police which I've not received yet," he told malaysiakini today.

"I've asked everything to be submitted the moment investigations are complete. There's no point in me repeating that I have received the complaints without having anything concrete."

He said the complainants should ask the police for answers and not him.

"The people must also be reasonable and not be quick to judge me without knowing the actual situation.

"It's wrong to say that I'm not taking any action when I don't even have the IP yet."

Noting the urgency and gravity of the matter, the AG said he realised that "everyone wants some sort of action to be taken".

"But they must understand that we're not an investigative agency. We can't take on those powers.

'Don't over-dramatise'

"I know it's a sensitive matter but please don't over-dramatise it. If there is a crime, we'll definitely act on it."

Last week, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), a local group that has been collating data on temple demolitions since early this year, sent the AG a letter with a seven-day ultimatum to act or face the music for violating the Federal Constitution.

The ultimatum expired yesterday.

Contacted today, Hindraf chairperson P Waytha Moorthy said their legal team was already preparing the necessary documents after not receiving "any form of reply" from the AG, with plans to file the suit within two weeks.

"Furthermore, it is not our job to follow-up with the police on this matter. They are part of our complaints... aiding and abetting the local authority enforcement officers during the demolitions.

"How can he tell us to ask the police after all that we've complained about their involvement?"

Waytha Moorthy said that as the AG, Abdul Gani "can order the police to urgently investigate the matter and submit the report".

"When the police can arrest a person on suspicion of a simple theft, what's to stop them from arresting the mayors for questioning or to record a statement?

"We wrote to him because the police failed to act on the numerous reports lodged so far. The investigation clearly cannot start without arresting the mayors."

50 police reports made

Over 50 police reports have been lodged since February against the Kuala Lumpur and Shah Alam mayors, the enforcement officers and the police on duty assisting the demolition.

The MIC, under fire for dithering over the issue, is being asked to immediately raise the matter with the cabinet.

International human rights organisations have also conveyed their concerns to the Malaysian diplomatic missions abroad, backing efforts to halt future demolitions.

While the Kuala Lumpur City Hall has agreed to consult a new committee before relocating or demolishing temples, Hindraf is pushing for specific laws to preserve the remaining temples as a national heritage.

Most of the century-old temples that started off as shrines were built pre-Merdeka but their legal status were subsequently overlooked, until now.

These developments have prompted calls for a better protection of religious freedom.