https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/05/16/71-year-old-temple-in-kulim-facing-demolition/
FMT:
71-year-old temple in
Kulim facing demolition
The Sri Maha Mariamman temple committee has been told to vacate the land, earmarked for the expansion of an industrial park.
KULIM: A 71-year-old Hindu temple in Lunas here is facing the prospect of demolition to make way for the expansion of an industrial park.
The Sri Maha Mariamman temple committee at Sungai Seluang said the Kedah government had told them to vacate the land. The Kedah government, in an immediate response, had also offered to further engage with the temple committee to address their concerns.
Temple chairman K Kheeshor Kumaar told FMT the state government had instructed them to vacate the area on grounds that they were squatting on state land.
However, Kheeshor denied this, saying that the temple, founded by estate workers in 1953, was part of an old estate previously managed by Sime Darby. The temple now sits on the grounds of the Kulim Hi-Tech Park.
He said that in 2022, the temple committee received an order from the authorities to clear out as the land in question no longer belonged to Sime Darby.
The committee then raised their plight with the district office, the Kulim Hi-Tech Park Corporation and the local authorities. They also met with the aide of Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Nor.
Kheeshor said the committee had sought an alternative plot of land as well as funds for the cost of reconstruction.
According to him, though, the officials with whom they met over the past two years were non-committal, and the notices to vacate the land were still issued. The latest was delivered last month.
“We pleaded for another piece of land. We were offered a plot some 12km away, which has five other Hindu temples in the same area.
“Around 2,000 Hindu families live in the 10 residential areas surrounding the current temple, which is regularly attended.
“We identified an empty plot of state land in Taman Makmur, where most of the residents are Indians. They told us they were going to build a playground on the said land. However, there is already a big playground next to that empty land.”
Kheeshor said the state had also acquired a cemetery belonging to the temple about 2km away for the construction of a road leading to the new phase of the industrial estate, and that 19 bodies would have to be exhumed.
State Chinese, Indian and Siamese community chairman Wong Chia Zen said present records showed that the temple was illegally built on state land.
He said the state had offered the temple a piece of land during a meeting.
“We are sincere about wanting to help the temple. We want to meet them again next week,” he said when contacted.
He also said the Kulim Hi-Tech Park Corporation and district office had met with the temple committee to discuss the matter before.
Will be demolished with relish.
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