REFORM Batu Caves has demanded that the Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam committee quit immediately after its chairman and two other committee members were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over allegations of graft.

Arun Dorasamy, who is the chairman for Reform Batu Caves, said members of the temple management must immediately call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

He wants temple chairman R. Nadarajah, temple trustee Sivakumar Nadarajah and committee members Krishnamoorthy Vyapuri, Alagan @ Alake Periasamy, Aragedas @ Suppiah Haridas, Velugopal Munusamy, Raman Kalimuthu and Subramaniam Ratnam to be removed. 

“We are giving Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam seven days to expel these eight people. We also demand for the temple management to have an EGM as prescribed by its constitution to get this done,” said Arun.

Reform Batu Caves also wants all 23 sub-groups of the Sri Mahamariamman Devasthanam committee to resign. 

“This is a demand, not even a suggestion. These are the people who have breached the trust vested by the Hindus. They were supposed guard the assets of the temple. They failed in their duty,” said Arun.

There are 69 people in the committee. 

Arun added that if the demands are not met, he will seek legal action through the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

“We will make the move to suspend the entire committee through the AGC since this committee is operating under court order. Hence, the AGC is the committee’s legal custodian.”

Arun said none of the Reform BC members will be in the new committee. 

Nadarajah was arrested on Monday night following raids at his home and temple office.

He was taken to the Putrajaya Magistrates’ Court where the MACC obtained a three-day remand order against him and two others.

The board manages the Batu Malai Sri Subramaniar temple in Batu Caves, Kortumalai Vinayagar temple in Persiaran Maybank and Sri Mahamariamman temple in Jalan Bandar, Kuala Lumpur.

MACC is said to be investigating them over the sale of a parcel of temple land in Jalan Kuching, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight, March 6, 2019.