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PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said the government was not able to interfere with the court's decision on the Sri Maha Mariamman temple issue in the USJ25, adding that the dissatisfied the decision of the High Court could challenge that decision before the higher courts.
"We must respect the laws of the land.
"When the courts decide, we have to stay. If they think the decision is wrong, they can appeal, "he told the PPBM office here, when asked if the temple would remain on the site.
Yesterday, Indian ministers Pakatan Harapan, P Waythamoorthy and M Kulasegaran, said the temple would not be relocated until the government made a decision.
Mahathir said that the status of the temple was not clear.
"At one point, Selangor decided that the temple could stay."
He added that the court had also indicated that the temple could be removed for compensation.
Mahathir said temple worshipers were guarding the temple because of his impending resettlement. However, he said, the mistake was made when the Malays were invited to "keep" ("jaga") the temple.
He said it would be the same if Hindus were asked to keep a mosque.
Mahathir, who was with other leaders of the PPBM, said the problem was due to the developer's insensitivity.
He added that in the future, all places of worship would need the approval of local authorities to prevent the construction of temples on the land of other people.
On the ancient temples, he said the government was unable to act because there would be many objections and "all kinds of reactions," he said without further details.
Request to debate an issue in Parliament
Mahathir said MPs had asked to debate the Seafield Temple issue tomorrow in Parliament. However, his authorization would depend on the Speaker of the House.
"We have to tell what's going on because we have information from the police and others," he said, adding that he hoped that a full explanation would be given in Parliament tomorrow.
"I hope the media will not make things worse by reporting false news," he said, adding that the anti-fake information law had not been repealed.
Early Monday, a group of armed men entered the temple that was filled with worshipers. This resulted in two serious injuries and 18 burned cars.
Early yesterday, a huge crowd gathered again in front of the temple early in the morning and several cars were burned. A firefighter who went to put out a fire was attacked and seriously injured.
Early today, the strong presence of the police discouraged the violence and several people who refused to disperse in front of the temple were arrested.
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