PM: Temple built without permission, country must follow rule of law

Summary

• The prime minister emphasises that the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple was built without permission and must be handled lawfully while ensuring a respectful relocation.

• Anwar Ibrahim adds that other places of worship, including mosques, have been removed for legal violations, but the government is taking a tolerant approach in this case.

• He criticises agitators for politicising the issue, clarifying that not all illegal structures can be granted replacement land, and confirmed the mosque project will proceed as planned.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has put his foot down regarding the land controversy at Jalan Masjid India, saying the matter must be handled according to the rule of law.

In his speech at the 218th Police Day celebration this morning, he said the temple was erected on a piece of land without permission from its previous and current owners.

“...regarding the plan to construct a mosque on a site which houses a temple that was built without permission.

“Some people do not want to use the term illegal, it’s okay, it is just a term. But the temple did not get permission from the land owner, be it the (Kuala Lumpur) City Hall (DBKL) as its previous owner or the company that owns it now.

“So, our country has laws and we have to follow the laws.

“But because we want to maintain a good relationship between the multiethnic groups in this country, we are doing something that we did not have to do, which is engage in peaceful negotiation, because this is their (Hindus) house of worship and should be relocated properly,” he added.

Anwar was speaking at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training Centre (Pulapol).

The prime minister was referring to the controversy involving a piece of land at Jalan Munshi Abdullah off Jalan Masjid India, on which sits the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple.

The temple is said to have been built in 1893, decades before DBKL and its predecessor agency were established.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Exploring temple crisis in the heart of KL

After Merdeka, DBKL became the land owner before it was sold in 2014 to the textile company Jakel Group.

Jakel recently announced its plan to build a mosque there, which it will name the Madani Mosque, with Anwar scheduled to officiate its groundbreaking ceremony this Thursday.

Mosques have been demolished too

Saying that the temple has to be relocated, Anwar pointed out that it is not the first house of worship to have been moved or demolished for violating the law.

“My religion never teaches me to be hostile towards others or to destroy their belongings. But do not mistake us for being weak.

“There was a mosque in Lahad Datu that was torn down because it did not follow the law. So was a surau in Perak and a mosque in Sentul.

“To us, this country must be based on the law,” he stressed.

Adding further, Anwar said the current administration is taking a “very soft” approach in resolving such issues, but they also have to take a firm position.

This was why the government urged all parties involved to negotiate and find an amicable solution, he said, including Jakel offering to pay compensation and DBKL showing courtesy in finding a new site for the temple.

However, Anwar implied that the approach might not apply to other future cases.

He said the government cannot give a new piece of land to every temple that was built without permission.

“It is not necessary that every temple built without a permit would be given a replacement site by the government.

“How many such structures are out there? There are some 130 in the federal territories or Kuala Lumpur alone, and some 300 in Kedah, while in Perak, several hundred more.

“It cannot be done. I am doing this now because I am taking a very tolerant approach, so I asked for this matter to be resolved amicably,” Anwar said.

The prime minister also lambasted “penghasut” (agitators) for propagating “evil narratives” on the issue.

He took a swipe at politicians who tried to tap the issue for political mileage, including a “former minister” who was in power during the time DBKL sold the land to Jakel.

According to Anwar, he has informed the temple committee to ignore those who try to instigate them.

Meanwhile, about the groundbreaking ceremony this Thursday, Anwar said he will officiate the event as scheduled.

“The area needs a new mosque because the other mosques nearby are already packed.

“That is why I will continue the plan to lay the foundation for the mosque this March 27,” he said.

Lawyers urge govt to disclose details of temple land sale in 2014

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

COMMENT | DBKL can defuse temple storm with truthfulness

YOURSAY | Temple crisis: DBKL has a lot to answer for