Khir Toyo to meet temple reps in Batu Caves

Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo will meet Hindu temple representatives this Friday in the wake of angry protests resulting from a string of temple demolition in the state.The meeting, which is organised by Malaysian Hindu Council, will be held at the historic Batu Caves temple.

Council's chairman R Nadarajah (left) told a press conference today at Batu Caves today that this would be the first time Mohd Khir is attending such a meeting.The council – an umbrella body of Hindu temples and Hindu-based organisations in Malaysia – said it would be gathering information, among others, the size, land ownership and registration of the temples. “We are calling all temples in Selangor to provide us with the information ... all issues can be solved (at the meeting),” he added.

According to the state government, there are between 800 and 900 Hindu temples – both big and small - in Selangor.Nadarajah also said that a memorandum on the matter will be handed to Mohd Khir on behalf of Hindu temples at this Friday’s dialogue.“After the Shah Alam temple (was) demolised, things got worse, but at least the government wants to listen (to the problem),” he said.

Nadarajah was referring to the demolition of a 100-year-old Sri Maha Mariaman temple in Shah Alam on the eve of Deepavali last month.The incident saw Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) heavily criticised for the use of violence by its officials. Fifteen residents of Kampung Rimba Jaya were arrested for trying to prevent MBSA demolishing their houses. Four lawyers who attempted to free the residents were also arrested and released on police bail later that day.

Temple demolitions have been a major issue in Selangor since the state government made the move to get rid of squatters areas and along with them, illegally-built and unregistered places of worship. Mohd Khir (right), in an interview with Malaysiakini earlier this month, lamented that he had been put in a difficult position regarding the need to take action against the squatters.Malaysian Hindu Council today also expressed its intention to expand its initiative to solve issues involving Hindu temples to other states.“We want to start with Selangor, then the whole Malaysia,” said Nadarajah, who was also chairman of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Kuala Lumpur’s Petaling Street

Hindraf rally: Temple already closed

Nadarajah also took the opportunity at the press conference to explain the Sept 25 incident where a crowd of thousands were dispersed by the police from the temple compound.He said the Batu Caves temple gate is opened daily from 6am to 10pm with the exception of certain religious occasions such as Thaipusam, Maha Sivarathiri and Vaikunda Ekathasi.On Sept 24, when Thiru Karthikai day was observed, all special prayers were completed by 9pm.“According to Hindu custom, once (the temple is) closed, it cannot be opened until the next day. There wasn’t any special prayers after (the festival) and there were no priests to conduct the prayers,” he added.In the early hours of Nov 25 - the day

Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf) had its mass rally in Kuala Lumpur - Nadarajah claimed a crowd of thousands forced themselves into the temple.“They gather inside (the temple), took the paving stones and threw outside (at the police). What happened between them and the police, we do not know,” he said.He added that “never in the history of the Batu Caves temple, Thiru Karthikai had been celebrated for 24 hours”.“It was puzzling why these people needed to come to the temple at midnight to do prayers.“How did they come inside? I don't know how it (the gate) was opened.

It was not opened by the temple management. The temple (was) already closed,” he added.He also rejected calls to withdraw the police report he made relating to the incident.According to Nadarajah, the temple had no choice but to lodge a police report against the “trespassing” and it was done purely on security reasons.“Temple properties (were) damaged. We need to lodge a police report to claim insurance. We never lodged report against anybody but only on the trespassing.”Nadarajah said the temple incurred over RM5,000 in damages during the incident.

The gathering at Batu Caves, just a few hours before the mammoth Hindraf rally, saw police using tear gas and chemical-laced water to disperse the crowd.Several individuals were seriously injured during the incident despite police claiming that there was “no body contact”. About 30 of those arrested were later charged with 'attempted murder' of a police officer, but this was later dropped.