A Hindu temple in Malacca, which is on the brink of having the renovated portion of its structure demolished, has accused another temple of being responsible for its woes.

Making the situation worse is the local Umno Youth members who have strung up two banners in the temple vicinity, which read: 'Don't test our patience', 'Tear down this unlawful temple.'

Harold Gomez, a trustee of the 16-year-old Sri Maha Periyachi temple in Tambak Paya village, is worried that because of Umno Youth, the temple may be demolished before July 15, the date given by the Malacca Town Council.

"We are still negotiating with the authorities, but these banners have frightened us," said Gomez, 55, when contacted yesterday.

"Who are they (Umno Youth) to interfere when the matter is between us and the town council?" he said, adding that Umno Youth's actions could incite racial tensions between the Malays and Indians in the village.

Gomez claimed that Umno Youth members have been going around the village to instigate the Malays over this issue.

According to him, when a temple delegation met Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam recently, the latter said he personally had no problems with the temple but it was the "Umno Malays" in the village who were not happy.

"I'm sure he (Mohd Ali) would deny saying this if you ask him now, but it does not matter," said Gomez.

The Sri Maha Periyachi Temple is located on a private land owned by villager, M Nadarajan, but it does not have a permit.

Previously, the Tambak Paya Umno Youth division had put up a similar banner at a hawker centre there to warn others against discussing the May 13, 1969 racial riots. ( right )

No problems before

Gomez explained that the temple had faced no problems for the past 16 years. However, local authorities sent a notice that the temple would be demolished after renovation works were carried out.

"Their logic is that the temple is bigger now, and it makes the Muslim villagers uncomfortable with it," he said.

"We have explained to the town council, and they relaxed a little and said that they would only bring down the renovated portion," he said, adding that the temple committee does not want a demolition at all.

Gomez believes that the problem could have been started by another temple, the Maha Mariamman Temple, in the village.

He said Maha Mariamman temple committee members have never been happy with the existence of the smaller temple since the beginning.

He claimed that their "envy" grew after the Sri Periyachi temple was renovated, making it more beautiful than the other temple.

"They are afraid that more people would come to this temple and thus, we suspect they had gone to the village's development and security committee (JKKK) and complained," said Gomez.

He claimed that the JKKK, which is "dominated by Umno members", had instigated the Malay villagers.

Prior to this, he said the some 1,000 Malay villagers had never raised any objections to the temple's presence.

"The Sri Periyachi temple has delivered many miracles, and even Malay villagers have requested the temple priest to include them in his prayers when they are in trouble," he added.

However, he said now the villagers were questioning the need for two temples in the village when the Indian population is fewer than the Malay population.

It's disrespectful

Gomez also claimed that when the Sri Periyachi temple committee approached the JKKK for help, they were turned away.

The temple's priest, who declined to be named, told malaysiakini that he was insulted by JKKK chief Senin Mat when he had requested for a support letter for the temple.

The priest said a police report was lodged over the Umno Youth banners at the temple and Senin's rude behaviour.

Contacted later, Senin said the Malay villagers are afraid that the temple would be renovated to become bigger in future.

"They never had problems when it was small as it was hidden behind the fence, but now it is bigger and they (the Malay villagers) fear it may grow even bigger in future," he added.

Tambak Paya Village Umno chief Moomin Aziz confirmed that the banners were put up by the village's Umno Youth members. However, he denied that they had instigated the villagers.

"The banner was put up as a reminder to the Indians to respect Malays in this village. This is a Malay village, they are showing disrespect by building this temple," he said.

On the same note, the Maha Mariamman temple president S Karupaiyah denied the temple's involvement in this matter.

"We did not complain to anyone. If we wanted to, we could have done it many years ago," he said.