Temple in relocation saga to stay, says source

Temple in relocation saga to stay, says source

Well-placed government source says both the prime minister and Selangor menteri besar have agreed to let the temple remain in its present location.

The Selangor government is expected to take control of the land where the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is located in USJ25.
PETALING JAYA:
The Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ25 will not be relocated as the Selangor government will intervene in the matter, says a well-placed government source.

The source said this was agreed by both Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari.

It is understood that the Selangor government will take control of the land.

However it is not yet known how the state intends to do this, given that it is a party to the 2014 consent judgement reached by the High Court to resolve the matter.

“The details will be announced tomorrow,” the source said.

Tomorrow’s announcement is anticipated to bring closure to the temple relocation saga which has seen a lengthy legal battle, protests and chaos, including burned vehicles, mob violence, an attack on the temple and damage to property.

Earlier today, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin revealed that a lawyer representing the developer paid a group of Malays to “control” the situation at the temple hours before it was set to be relocated on Monday.

The group attacked devotees at the temple leading to a scuffle that left two seriously injured and 18 cars burned.

Then on Tuesday morning, a gathering at the temple involving over 1,000 people turned unruly after cars were set on fire.

When a fire truck arrived at the scene to douse the fire, protesters charged towards the truck, forcing it to retreat.

An Emergency Medical Rescue Services van and a fire engine were also vandalised.

The crowd also vandalised the building which housed the office of the developer, One City Development. The crowd pelted the building, located about 500 metres from the temple, with rocks and smashed the glass doors and windows.

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