WORSHIPPERS at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple want Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Selangor’s Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to intervene and resolve its land dispute.

Save Seafield Temple Task Force secretary V.K. Regu said Dr Mahathir ought to make a decision on what has become a national matter.

“This has become a national issue, and riots have happened. There are criminal elements involved.

“We want Dr Mahathir to come up with a solution,” he told reporters at the temple in Subang Jaya today.

Violence erupted early yesterday after some 50 masked men stormed the 147-year-old house of worship and intimidated devotees into leaving.

Vehicles were torched, and some devotees were held at knifepoint until police arrived. Scuffles broke out when the worshippers tried to chase away the intruders.

Last night, a large crowd gathered at the temple, purportedly to defend it, but later marched to the office of the private developer that owns the land where the temple is located.

The temple committee has mounted a legal challenge against the eviction notice it was served to make way for the developer, One City Development Sdn Bhd.

Regu said there is no need for the task force to meet Dr Mahathir or the developer as the incident at the temple has passed.

“But, we want an assurance that the safety of devotees is not compromised.

“We need a decision, so that we know whether we can still trust police or the government.”

He said there have been some 100 police reports lodged over the land dispute since last year, but no action has been taken.

“We also met with politicians and the menteri besar, but he has not resolved the issue. They have all failed us.”

Regu added that a memorandum was sent to the Selangor sultan last week. – November 27, 2018.