The recovery of a MBPJ document was the crucial factor in winning Sri Maha Mariamam temple and the adjoining Tow Boo Keong temple in SS2 a chance to stay on, avoiding possible eviction.
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who was assisting the two temples, said developer who acquired the land where the temples stood were hiding certain conditions of their agreement from the committee.
He said MBPJ had in March 2007 issued a planning approval to the developer Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) with imposed conditions that both of the temples must be given 10,000 square feet of land each.
“The third condition states that land must be given to the temples, and it says it clear that it must be 10,000 sq ft per temple,” he said at a press conference last weekend.
“But SDB has not been revealing the conditions to the public,” he added.
SDB bought over the parcel of land comprising the former urban pioneer’s settlement Kg Damansara Dalam and the two half-a-century-old temples in 2007.
They have since erected SS Mall and Ken Damansara Condomunium on the piece of land, while singling out the two temples pending negotiations.
The incident however took a twist in May this year when the developer served a strongly-worded notice to the two temples, claiming that they were trespassing on personal land.
Pua said SDB were mulling to only compensate 5000 sq ft to each temple prior to the discovery of the document.
“They were even saying about relocating the temples to Rawang,” Sri Maha Mariamam temple committee secretary Raman Muniandy said.
Two days ago, Pua (above, white shirt) finally received a text message from SDB which said they now agree on the 10,000 sq ft request for both temples.
He will now let the temple committee discuss directly with SDB, but cautioned them to hire a non-partisan lawyer to deliberate the terms and conditions.
Sri Maha Mariamam temple committee chairman Tanasakaran Rengasamy (above, pink shirt) said he is relieved that the temple is finally saved from eviction.
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Dr Keith Tan Kay Hin
