THE violence that erupted at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya early this morning has its roots in 2007, when One City Development Sdn Bhd purchased the land where the temple stands from the state.

For the next seven years, the developer had held talks with the temple committee over the status of the land. The problem was that there were two separate groups who had claimed ownership of the temple.

Finally in 2014, after a lengthy legal battle, a consensus judgment was agreed involving all stakeholders – One City, the Selangor government and the two claimants of the temple – K. Chellappa and M. Nagaraju – for the relocation of the temple, plus compensation.

Both Chellappa and Nagaraju, who were involved in separate suits over the control of the temple management, agreed to hand back the land to One City. In return, the temple will be relocated to a 0.4ha piece of land in USJ 23. RM2.5 million was also set aside for the construction of the new temple.

But Nagaraju had a change of heart, saying his forefathers had built the current temple. He and several Indian civil rights groups then objected to the relocation.

His stance on wanting the temple to be maintained at the present location was due to a fig tree – which is sacred in Hinduism – planted on the land.

He also argued that the temple should not be relocated as devotees have been praying at the site since 1891, when the temple grounds were opened by Indian estate workers.

Chellappa, who was named temple committee president in the 2014 court settlement, was happy to comply with the consent judgment to relocate.

The first notice of eviction came in the first week of March 2017.

However, in June 2017, then Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali said he had spoken to the developer and persuaded them to put the temple eviction on hold.

He said the decision was made following discussions with several Selangor leaders including state executive councillor V. Ganabatirau, Klang MP Charles Santiago, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo and Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah.

Following a meeting between the legislators and a civil rights group called the Seafield Task Force on December 14, the members of Parliament said Azmin will assist to bring all parties and relevant stakeholders to the discussion table.

On May 31 this year, Ganabatirau said the temple relocation would have to be followed as the court order had ruled that Chellappa was the rightful temple committee president, adding that the temple committee had agreed to relocate. This prompted hundreds of devotees to gather to stop the process.

Support groups started calling the process a temple demolition. The Seafield Temple Taskforce under the leadership of prominent Hindu activist S. Ramaji also played a vital role stop the relocation of the temple.

Later, on September 28, the Shah Alam High Court issued a notice requesting the temple to vacate the premises before October 25.

A major flashpoint occurred on October 25 with a six-hour standoff between police and devotees outside the gates of the temple after it was said that the committee had planned to move the main deity to the new site some 2.7km away.

Devotees against the relocation shielded the main deity while others stood guard to ensure no relocation would take place. The temple gates were shut and the shutters to the main deity were pulled down. Several devotees also went on a hunger strike.

The standoff was defused after the developer agreed to postpone relocation until November 22, after Deepavali.

Sivarasa, now the MP for Sungai Buloh, was also reported as saying the management of the temple will be undertaken by Seafield Temple Taskforce leader Ramaji.

On October 20, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the Selangor state government will abide by the court order to relocate the temple as it was built on private land.

Ramaji, however, insisted today they will not move despite being given an alternative site. He also confirmed the temple had received an order from the developer to vacate the land but added they were challenging the order on Thursday.

“Why are they attacking us when the issue has been brought to court? We want to remain here. The land was given to us in 1987. But there are no documents (to support this).

“This is our temple and we shouldn’t have to move,” he said.

No Pakatan Harapan leaders have visited the temple after the incident this morning. They instead issued statements urging the police to punish the perpetrators.

PKR’s Batu MP P. Prabakaran was heckled when he visited the temple, with devotees saying they don’t want politicians to interfere in their fight.

They, however, welcomed a visit by MIC leaders, including its president S. Vigneswaran, who also pledged RM20,000 to the temple. – November 26, 2018.