The common management bodies of a city stand out from MCT Bhd

PETALING JAYA: The joint management bodies (JMB) of three commercial plots at One City in the USJ25 have moved away from MCT Bhd, the developer at the center of a controversy regarding the relocation of a temple which has since unleashed a violent demonstration.

In a statement, Skypark's JMBs, The Place and The Square said One City is a mixed development owned by 939 individual owners and managed by three JMBs.

The land for Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple belongs to One City Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of MCT Bhd.

"We have absolutely no connection with this company," reads a statement, adding that One City Development Sdn Bhd is only a tenant and does not own the building.

The office tower, he added, is also rented by other tenants, including several multinational companies.

The dispute over the land, especially between the devotee of the temple Nagaraju M and the direction of the temple represented by K Chellappa, has lasted for many years.

Nagaraju was a party in a civil suit including the Selangor Government, One City and the leadership of the Chellappa Temple.

According to a consent judgment issued in March 2014, the parties agreed that One City would provide land for a new temple, as well as a donation of RM 1.5 million, in exchange for vacant possession of the temple grounds. at USJ25.

The temple was to be relocated on November 22 as part of a win-win solution.

However, one faction of the temple insisted that it remain at its current location, although it accepted the consent judgment earlier.

Early Monday, a violent fight broke out after the entrance of an armed group into the temple. At least 18 vehicles were burned and several people were injured.

Early Tuesday morning, protesters burned more vehicles and smashed the windows of the mall where the developer's office is located.

Police arrested 21 people for investigation.

Significant damages

At a press conference, Choong Li Loh, president of JMB for The Square, revealed that the damage caused by the protest was "significant", although it did not reveal the numbers real.

"It's not just the financial cost," he said, without specifying, adding that the owners would bear the costs.

When asked if they were considering suing, Choong said that they would consult with their attorneys.

"We just want to do business."