The Sri Raja Rajeswari temple’s application for a plot of land has been pending since 1995.
The temple committee had originally applied for land for its temple, hall and staff quarters in 1995, but was only given half an acre for its temple when the state was under Barisan Nasional rule.
“When Pakatan took over, we were advised by Xavier to reapply for the land after he confirmed that the land had not been gazetted by the authorities,” temple Chairman Palaiya Thachinamoorthy told FMT.
Xavier then advised the temple committee to make an application to the Klang Municipal Council, which later approved the application on the condition that the committee make a formal application to the land office.
“Xavier then launched the land. (However), we later received a letter from the land office that the land had already been gazetted as Open Space in 2011 during Xavier’s time as an exco member,” Palaiya said.
“Subsequently, we applied to have the land degazetted. A public hearing was conducted by the Klang Municipal Council and there were no objections from the public. However, to date the land has not been given to us.”
Since then, the temple authorities have been constantly beating at the state government’s door to have the matter settled.
“The authorities have been pushing us here and there and have not resolved the problem. The Pakatan government has promised to sort it out and resolve this matter.
“However, even the menteri besar has failed to give us an appointment to sort out the issue. The present Indian exco member has not been helpful either,” Palaiya said.
He showed FMT the temple committee’s letter to the Klang district office in July this year, which stated that neither the temple authorities nor the surrounding residents had been notified via letter or signboard that the land had been gazetted.
“Neither we nor the surrounding residents have been given any written notice or have seen any signboard announcing your, or the Klang Municipal Council’s, intention to gazette the land, even though the relevant authorities are well aware that we have applied for the said land,” the committee had written in the letter.
Xavier could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.