SEPANG — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has dismissed claims that the government is ordering the demolition of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple, stressing that he would never endorse such an action.
“I cannot imagine myself, as Prime Minister, ordering the demolition of any temple or religious establishment,” he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Sultan Abdul Samad at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today, Bernama reported.
He criticised certain individuals for politicising the issue, particularly those with no prior involvement in Hindu religious affairs, and urged all parties to handle the matter responsibly.
In an apparent swipe at Datuk S. Ambiga and R. Surendran who are representing the temple committee, Anwar said parties including lawyers are fuelling the situation.
“The problem is that there are religious opportunists, including lawyers who have never been involved in Hindu religious activities, suddenly positioning themselves as champions and making statements as if the temple is about to be demolished,” he said.
Anwar clarified that the land on which the temple stands has been privately owned since 2012 and does not belong to the government.
The owner, Jakel Group, intends to develop a mosque on the site but has agreed to provide assistance for the temple’s relocation.
“It’s an old temple, but its status is not officially approved. However, to maintain harmony, the company has agreed to provide some assistance, while DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) has already identified a replacement site to prevent any issues,” he said.
The Prime Minister urged all parties to work towards an amicable resolution and cautioned against any inflammatory reactions, including from the Muslim community.
“I also hope there will be no inappropriate response, and that we handle this matter properly. The mosque will be built as planned, and a site for the temple will be provided,” he added.
Yesterday, it was reported that discussions on the temple’s relocation were progressing smoothly between Jakel Group, the temple management, and DBKL.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif stated that DBKL is acting as a facilitator to ensure the relocation process from private land to the new site proceeds without complications. — March 21, 2025