Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan has pledged that Hindu temples on government land will not be demolished in the future. In the event that temples are located on land allocated for development projects, he said that the government will offer alternative land and work with temple custodians to resolve the issue. He said this after meeting with representatives of the Malaysia Hindu Council (MHC), of which Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram (MHDM) is a founding member.
from Bernama
Saravanan’s Pledge On Hindu Temples
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 – All Hindu temples on government land situated in commercial zones in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 will not be demolished, Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said Friday.
However, the prior approval of Kuala Lumpur City Hall was required for new temples to be built, even on private land, he said.
In the future, custodians of temples affected by development projects would be given alternative land to relocate the houses of worship, he told reporters after a meeting with representatives of the Malaysian Hindu Council on the draft city plan.
Saravanan said there had been no demolition of temples on government land in the Federal Territory.
He also said that the ministry would allow the various communities to build their houses of worship in housing estates.
At the meeting, Saravanan clarified a statement by the Malaysia Hindu Sangam on Aug 29 that several Hindu temples were missing in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.
He said the ministry had not received any written complaint from any quarters on the purported demolition or absence of temples in the draft plan.