Good news for our Hindu brethren in Selangor

The controversial Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya, Padang Jawa which was demolished in November 2007 is set to be rebuilt on 15,000 sq feet of land near the Keretapi Tanah Melayu quarters.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place today at the site in Padang Jawa and was attended by Selangor state excos, community leaders and the Indian settlers from the former Kampung Rimba Jaya.

The temple was ordered to be torn down by the authorities as it stood in the vicinity of the Rimba Jaya squatter settlement. Its controversial demolition by the state government in 2007 had led to many Indians turning their backs on BN.

The Hindu groundbreaking ceremony started at 9.00am with bricks coupled with religious paraphernalia arranged in a four foot-deep hole, which will sit right below the main altar of the soon to be built temple.

Land ceded by developer

According to the Selangor State Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Committee Chairman, Dr A Xavier Jayakumar, the land was donated by the developer, Ken Rimba Jaya.

"The land was given to state government, and was ceded by the developer. Then we, the state government will decide, whom, and how much of the land will be given," said Xavier (left) when queried on how the land was allocated to this temple.

He also said that all the land for places of worship in Selangor is gazetted under the state secretary.

Xavier also announced that RM300,000 had been allocated by the Selangor state government for the building fund and the land will be managed by the temple association.

Xavier the temple saviour

The temple committee and community leaders in Padang Jawa honoured Xavier with garlands and gave him the title "temple saviour".

According to the temple committee chairperson, Madhu Manogaran, the Selangor state government and Xavier has worked tirelessly to help save temples in Selangor.

"We are very grateful to the state government, Tan Sri Khalid and Xavier for helping us to rebuild this temple, which means a lot to us," said Madhu during his speech.

Xavier also said that the state government had managed to help around 70 temples by giving them land.

"We are prepared to do more for the Indian community, last year we spent RM2.5 million for Hindu places of worship," said Xavier in his speech.

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, along with the squatter settlement of Rimba Jaya, was demolished in 2007 by the then BN-led state government as part of its Zero Squatter programme.

The demolition of the temple led to a massive protest by Indian groups and helped trigger the historic Hindraf rally on Nov 25 that year.

[Source: Mkini]