Police deny Hindu temple being demolished

Police have denied a report that a 101-year-old Hindu temple in Jalan P. Ramlee here is being demolished, instead several statues were temporarily shifted to enable a pavement next to it to be repaired.

Dang Wangi police chief ACP Zainuddin Ahmad said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which was carrying out the repair work, would place back the statues of the deities once the repair work was completed.

He said seven men, including MIC Youth chief T.Mohan, were arrested for allegedly hindering the repair work near the temple at about 11am.

They were released in the afternoon after their statements were taken, he said in a statement.

"We believe it was merely a misunderstanding between MIC Youth and DBKL.

"They (MIC Youth) thought that DBKL wanted to demolish the temple," he said, adding that there were no untoward incidents and the repair work continued without restraint after that.

Meanwhile, Mohan when met by reporters at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters claimed that DBKL did not give any notice to the management of the temple to shift the three idols at the temple.

"If DBKL want to move the idols, they must give notice. But no notice was given. I regret this very much because DBKL is not sensitive over this issue," he said.

He also regretted the action of some DBKL members who entered the temple wearing shoes and smoking cigarettes.

"Such actions are rude.. not respecting our religion," he said.

Mohan also urged Federal Territory Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor to intervene in the issue because the Cabinet had agreed not to demolish the temple.