Samy Vellu condemned Hindu temple demolition against Opposition’s promise

The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) officers had taken action to tear down a Hindu temple, the Sri Maha Kaliamman temple in Kampung Tasik, Jalan Baru in Ampang on Sept 9 2008.

MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu condemned the action, saying it went against the Opposition’s promise during the election campaign not to demolish any temples.

“It is very careless of the local council to demolish the temple without first relocating the temple,” he said in a statement.

Human Resources Minister Datuk S. Subramaniam said the MIC was extremely disappointed with the Pakatan Rakyat state government and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ).


“Our stand all along has been that if a temple needs to be relocated due to road expansion or some other major development, it can be relocated with the agreement that a new place of worship be built in an ideal area,” he said.

After being informed of the demolition of the temple on Wednesday, Selangor MIC Youth Chief M. Yogeswaran immediately lodged a report at the Ampang Jaya police station.

Sept 16 had come and gone with the BN still in power

Parti Keadilan Rakyat has yet again falsely claimed that talks were being held with the Barisan Nasional on a transfer of power. It is the latest baseless strategy to twist and empty boast over transfer of power.

The real reason why people lose confidence in Pakatan Rakyat is the date set for a Pakatan Rakyat takeover; Sept 16 had come and gone with the BN still firmly in control of the government.

The BN government is likely to grow even stronger before it’s predicted. Although Pakatan Rakyat claimed that the opposition coalition having enough defections to topple the government and negotiations had begun with the ruling coalition over a transfer of power, however, not even a single defector has come forward.

It is unacceptable too that the undemocratic transfer of power was allowed to happen. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday scoffed at a Parti Keadilan Rakyat claim that talks were being held with the Barisan Nasional on a transfer of power.

The prime minister, who is BN chairman and Umno president, also described PKR information chief Tian Chua's claim that contacts had been made between intermediaries of the two sides as "the craziest report I have ever heard".

While Abdullah had denied this, Pakatan Rakyat supremo Anwar Ibrahim also appeared to be in the dark about the negotiations.

"I'm not aware of any negotiations taking place between Pakatan Rakyat and the prime minister - statements made yesterday suggesting that a line of communication was open were misinformed," said the opposition leader in a statement.

Asked on the same issue later, Anwar added: "No, not that I'm aware of… he (Tian) may be privy to other information but as far as I'm concerned what the PM said was right.

"Very rarely do I agree with Abdullah Badawi."