Tengku Adnan: It’s a shrine, not a temple

(The Star) – The Sri Muneswarar Kaliamman Hindu temple should be identified as a shrine rather than a temple, according to Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said he understood the difference between the two and the one currently embroiled in a struggle over 2.43m of land between it and an ongoing project construction located in the Golden Triangle area here, is a shrine.

“I am a pious man. I would not want to break something which others pray to,” he said, adding that there are laws that govern such matters and people should abide by it.

The temple, located at the corner of Jalan P. Ramlee and Jalan Tengah, is said to have been built in 1911 and has been fighting the demolition order that was first issued on June 13 by the Federal Territories Land Office.

It is situated on reserve land and is being partially reclaimed in order to built a walkway and drain.

Last week, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) staff had gone into the temple and removed the deities from its altars.

Hoarding was then erected around the area but the temple committee brought it down late last week.

Tengku Adnan said people should stop using religion for personal gains.

He also said that some temples in Kuala Lumpur were being monitored for illegal activities, but he did not elaborate further.

Tengku Adnan said the temple would be beautified in line with its surroundings.

“We will also be gazetting the land for use as a shrine,” he said, adding that not all the land it currently occupied would be allocated.