Author:
Publication: The Star
Date: June 9, 2006
URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/6/9/nation/14485485&sec=nation
It is also understood that one of the temple
priests suffered a heart attack when he saw the temple being demolished and
was taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital where he is reportedly in a stable
condition.
The arrests came after a two-hour standoff
between police officers, DBKL workers and 15 people seeking to prevent the
Aum Sri Sivabalamuniswaran temple in Setapak from being torn down.
According to Sentul OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Rodzi
Ismail the demonstrators threw sticks and stones at the policemen.
"The temple management was informed almost
a year ago that the temple would have to be relocated due to the construction
of the new Duta-Hulu Kelang Expressway (Duke)," he said.
According to ACP Mohd Rodzi, one of the protesters
was injured on the forehead after hitting himself with a pair of handcuffs.
It was learnt that the committee of the 30-year
old building, which has a congregation of about 800 people, was offered a
plot of land in a nearby location, but had rejected the offer.
P. Sivalingam, a temple priest, said that
they had been receiving notices from City Hall for a few years.
"We have had a few negotiations with
them over the years, but could not come to an agreement because they were,
at first, not willing to give us any land in compensation."
However, he said, the highway developer later
offered them a plot of land, but this was rejected by the temple committee.
"They gave us a 10ft by 10ft plot, which
is not big enough for the temple.
"It is only big enough to build a toilet
on!" he said.
