Land requested by temple unsuitable for relocation, says Kedah exco

The Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Kulim has been told to relocate to make way for the Kulim Hi-Tech Park’s expansion programme. (Sri Maha Mariamman temple committee pic)

PETALING JAYA: The land requested by a Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Kulim is unsuitable for the temple’s relocation, says Kedah executive councillor Wong Chia Zhen.

The state’s Chinese, Indian and Siamese community committee chairman said the site at Taman Makmur is reserve land owned by the city council and any transfer of land ownership requires the approval of major stakeholders of the site.

“However, the authorities are still open to negotiate and discuss with the temple management. The government has no intention to demolish this temple, and continuously seeks a resolution for the worshippers,” he said in a statement today.

Wong also urged the temple committee to accept the replacement site offered by the state government as it will benefit the devotees living near it.

“I have surveyed the site, which has now developed into an industrial area. I found that the area has no residents and relocating the temple to the site would provide convenience to nearby Hindu worshippers,” he said.

On May 16, FMT reported that the 71-year-old temple faces the prospect of demolition to make way for the expansion of an industrial park.

Temple chairman K Kheeshor Kumaar said the state government had instructed them to vacate the area on grounds that they were squatting on state land.

However, Kheeshor denied this, saying the temple, founded by estate workers in 1953, was part of an old estate previously managed by Sime Darby. It now sits on the Kulim Hi-Tech Park grounds.

He said the committee had sought an alternative site as well as funds to rebuild the temple.

Kheeshor said the committee was offered land some 12km away, which has five other Hindu temples in the same area.

“We identified an empty plot of state land at 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,” he said.

Wong clarified that the temple’s current site had been sold to the state government and would soon need to make way for the Kulim Hi-Tech Park’s rapid development as it is moving from phase 4a to phase 5.

He said the authorities had previously offered two separate plots of land for the temple’s relocation and agreed to cover any expenses incurred, but the temple committee had failed to respond within the stipulated date.

“Up until now, the temple has rejected the offer made verbally on March 14 during a site visit. However, the government is still seeking opportunities to resolve this issue harmoniously.

“It is the state government’s responsibility to issue the eviction notice and vacate the site at any time. However, we have taken no action against the temple so far as we are aware that it is a holy place for the worshippers,” he said.