MIC Youth, NGOs protest demolition of altar

SHAH ALAM, Dec 7 (Bernama) — About 300 representatives of MIC Youth and non-governmental organisations staged a peaceful protest at the State Secretariat building here against the demolition of an altar at a house in Salak Tinggi, Sepang, on Nov 20.

The group, headed by MIC Youth chief T. Mohan, questioned the state government for hastily demolishing the temple and banning the building of non-Muslim houses of worship near residential areas.

“Is it wrong to build an altar in the compound of a house for a family to pray together?” he told reporters after handing over a memorandum to Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar’s special assistant, Abdul Razak Ismail, at the entrance to the building.

Mohan said they urged the state government to rebuild the altar, in Taman Seroja, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, in two weeks and compensate the owner. The altar was demolished by officers from the Sepang Municipal Council.

They also wanted Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to tender an open apology to the Indian community on the issue of demolition of temples in Selangor since 2008.