The temple issue began long before the foreign takeover, says One City

PETALING JAYA: One City Development, owner of land occupied by Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, which has seen violent demonstrations over the last two days, said that a dispute over the temple's move had begun well before the company's purchase by a foreign company.

Responding to an article in a portal on companies involved in temple-related controversy, he said it was true that the foreign company had taken majority control of the parent company of One City Development early in the year. 39 year, but that the report had badly described.

"The ownership structure of the parent company has always been openly revealed in public and regulatory statements," said a spokesman.

"The way the article is presented describes One City Development as an avid developer with a foreign shareholder behind him.

"But in reality, this conflict existed well before the change of shareholder," he told FMT, referring to a conflict between the temple defender, Mr. Nagaraju, and the temple leadership.

Nagaraju was a party in a civil lawsuit including the Selangor government, One City and the leadership of the temple represented by K Chellappa.

He had also challenged the right to represent the temple in Chellapa, but had failed to oust him.

According to a consent judgment rendered 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 land at USJ 25.

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 a consent judgment for its transfer in 2014.

Yesterday morning, a violent fight broke out over the move of a temple to Seafield. Several vehicles were set on fire near the exit of USJ on the Elite Highway.

In total, 21 people have been caught since.

One city said the company had been restrained and "with years of patience" during the move.

"And we followed everything in the rules," he added.