Veena Babulal
New Straits Times21 January 2018
JOHOR BARU: The Johor Sultan has stepped in as peacekeeper to allay fears of devotees upset with the controversial demolition of an 80-year-old Hindu temple, said to be built illegally on private land.
In a statement on his official Facebook page, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar said that he had met a few representatives from the Dewa Shree Sivasakthi Shree Sinnakaruppar Devotees Association at Istana Bukit Pelangi Sunday morning.
Sultan Ibrahim further said that he would personally ensure a new site would be made available by the state government where the temple will be rebuild.
The Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar (4th from left) has stepped in as peacekeeper to allay fears of devotees upset with the controversial demolition of an 80-year-old Hindu temple, said to be built illegally on private land. Pic by NSTP/ courtesy of SULTAN IBRAHIM SULTAN ISKANDAR Facebook
Tunku Temenggong Johor, Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim, was also present at the meeting together with Johor state exco member R. Vidyananthan.
The ruler and Tunku Idris Iskandar offered cash aid of RM100,000 and RM70,000, respectively, to the temple committee in order to facilitate its moving cost.
Sultan Ibrahim has also urged all parties involved to work towards an amicable resolution to the unfortunate incident and said there was no need to blow the matter out of proportion.
The statement further read that the temple had encroached into private land and the landlord had obtained a court order to take it down.
After talks with the temple leaders failed, the authorities moved in to demolish the illegal structure on January 11. © New Straits Times
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