SHAH ALAM: Initial investigations by the Selangor government have revealed that the "temple" demolished by the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council was actually a small shrine built on forest reserve land.

State executive councillor Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar said it was misleading to call the structure a "temple".

The shrine was surrounded by a culvert no more than a metre long and it did not have a roof.

He said the state, aware of the religious sensitivities of the various communities, was probing why the "shrine" was demolished, contrary to restrictions imposed by the state government.

Xavier was responding to criticism from MIC leaders who accused the state government of allowing the demolition of a "temple".

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had slammed the Selangor government for taking Indians "for a ride" with empty promises.

He demanded that the state government explain if it had given clear and written instructions to all local councils not to demolish Hindu temples.

Selangor MIC Youth chief M. Yogeswaran had lodged a police report on Wednesday after he was informed on the demolition of the 19-year-old temple.


Xavier said the council president was away performing the umrah when the incident happened and that the state would give him an opportunity to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Pictures courtesy of : Wikimapia and MIC Youth