Malaysian Hindu temple relocation plan shelved for the time being

Shah Alam, Sep. 6 (ANI): Following a heated meeting between the residents of Section 23 of Shah Alam and City Council enforcement officers, the controversial decision to relocate a Hindu temple from Section 19 to Section 23 has been temporarily shelved.

"We have already asked Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) together with the Member of Parliament, state assemblyman and city council to identify another location," The Star Online quoted Selangor Mentri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, as saying.

A meeting, which also had state MP Khalid Samad; state assemblyman Rodziah Ismail and mayor Mazalan Md Noor.

The dialogue was intended to clear doubts and explain to the residents the proposed relocation of the Hindu temple.

However, the situation turned tense when some of the participants became disruptive.

"We know that anything to do with religion is sensitive and should be handled with care. We are not going to sweep it under the carpet.

"Instead, we will be open and take an affirmative action to solve the long-standing issue," Ibrahim said.

Khalid said the residents had raised some good points to be taken into consideration.

Khalid urged Section 23 residents to stop discussing the issue.

He said it was the state's responsibility to look for a site that was agreeable to all parties involved.

The Section 19 temple is about 150 years old and was originally located in a plantation, but when the State Economic Development Corporation decided to develop the area into a housing estate, it left the temple there.

Initially, the temple was supposed to be relocated to an industrial area in Section 22, but was moved to Section 23 to make it more accessible for devotees. (ANI)