Why must DBKL seek 'squatter's' permission, Akmal asks Vigneswaran

Summary

• Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh questions MIC president SA Vigneswaran’s logic of asking DBKL to seek permission from a ‘squatter’ to sell its land when the city hall is the land’s rightful owner.

• Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi urges NGOs and lawyers to stop any provocation on the issue and let Jakel resolve the matter with the temple committee.

• UPDATED 11.40AM | Urimai calls on Putrajaya to acknowledge that the temple is not an illegal structure.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has slammed MIC president SA Vigneswaran over the controversy surrounding the land that houses the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple on Jalan Masjid India.

This came after the MIC leader lambasted the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) yesterday for selling the land to textile company Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd without consulting the temple committee.

Taking to Facebook, Akmal (above) questioned why the authority should seek permission from a "squatter" to sell its land.

"DBKL wants to sell a piece of land that it owns and it has to inform the people who had been squatting there first?

"If you say that you have been there for the past 130 years, why has no one from the temple management met DBKL to state its intention to buy or rent the plot?

"Now you want to blame the land owner for selling their land when the squatter is the one who should ask if the owner wants to sell," he said.

Akmal's posting was accompanied by a screenshot of the news portal Malaysia Gazette's report on Vigneswaran yesterday.

It was reported that the MIC leader, during a press conference, said DBKL should have discussed with the temple committee and provided vacant land for its relocation before selling off the current site.

Adding further, Akmal urged for the matter to be resolved in court to attain a fair result.

"Our country has law, do not spin here and there. Take this matter to court and resolve this fair and square.

"Respect our country's law. Full stop!" he said.

‘Stop any provocation’

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi also took to Facebook this morning, urging NGOs and lawyers weighing in on the issue to stop any provocation that can disrupt ongoing discussions between the temple committee and Jakel.

He also called on politicians to stop "playing safe" on the issue and instead follow the law.

"The land belongs to Jakel. Let DBKL be the intermediary.

"Keep in mind that the intention to wakaf (donate) a mosque is the religious right of the land owner.

"What if this case involves a land plot that belongs to a temple and there is an old surau on it? Surely (the surau) would be asked to vacate.

"Would LFL (Lawyers for Liberty) and Ambiga intervene if this was the case?" Puad said, referring to former Bersih chairperson and lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan.

Recognise temple as legal, govt urged

United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) president P Ramasamy called on the government to acknowledge that the temple is not an illegal structure.

Referring to MIC deputy president M Saravanan’s statement yesterday, he said it has been clarified that the temple has always been at the location and was never relocated.

"Furthermore, DBKL’s recognition of the temple through the provision of water and electricity services affirms its legitimacy.

"A temple that has existed for over 130 years and receives such municipal support can hardly be deemed illegal," he added.

While he praised Saravanan for the explanation, Ramasamy slammed MIC for not having acted sooner to protect the land by designating it as a site for non-Muslim worship.

Ramasamy urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to uphold fairness for all races and religions in the country and not abandon the Indian community's concerns.

He also claimed that those who are advocating for the temple to be relocated are only using claims of illegality to mask their religious and racial prejudices.

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