KUALA LUMPUR – Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) adviser N. Surendran has welcomed the proposal for the Dewi Sri Pathra Kaliamman temple and a planned mosque to share the same land, describing it as a positive resolution to the ongoing dispute over the temple’s potential demolition.
Surendran told Scoop that this approach aligns with the views of both the temple committee and LFL.
“It reflects the mutual respect Malaysians of all races have for each other. This would be a positive step for the country,” he said when contacted.
His remarks follow reports indicating that Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, the registered owner of the land, may be open to a resolution that would allow the temple and mosque to coexist peacefully.
Addressing claims that the temple committee had long been aware of the land’s status, Surendran clarified that formal notification from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was only received on 29 March 2016.
It is understood that DBKL’s letter informed the temple committee that the land had been sold to Jakel.
When asked about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent criticism of lawyers for allegedly exacerbating the dispute, Surendran declined to comment.
Meanwhile, former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who has also advocated for the temple to remain at its current location, has yet to respond to Scoop’s inquiries.
DBKL has assured that no demolition will take place until the temple has been relocated. 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 a new site proceeds without complications.
Anwar has also dismissed claims that the government is responsible for ordering the temple’s demolition, stressing that his administration would never endorse such an action. The prime minister urged all parties to work towards an amicable resolution and cautioned against inflammatory reactions, including from the Muslim community.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association adviser Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar defended DBKL’s actions, stating that the land sale was legally sound and could not be overturned.
He emphasised that, under the National Land Code, a registered landowner’s rights are absolute, and challenging the transaction would have no legal basis.
Zainul also commended the landowner’s commitment to finding a peaceful resolution, drawing parallels to Islamic principles of religious respect.
However, sources told Scoop that Jakel is considering a solution that would allow both places of worship to stand side by side, ensuring a peaceful resolution to the land dispute. – March 23, 2025