Four arrested in standoff over temple demolition

(MMO) - There was no notice, it was a demolition by ambush... they just came in a day after Merdeka and began breaking it down. Negotiation was supposed to be still on-going... and there was no court order permitting it.

Four individuals, including a PKR leader, were arrested this morning following a standoff with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) over an allegedly illegal demolition of the Golden Triangle Muneswarar Kuil on Jalan P. Ramlee here.

Temple lawyer N. Surendran also alleged that three or four gangsters, whom he claimed had come with the councils demolition team, assaulted him when he tried to stop the temples destruction.

He confirmed that the four arrested were Hindraf-turned-PKR leader S. Jayathas, temple secretary Nalini, temple photographer Prem and a fourth unnamed individual.

The standoff went on from about 8am to 10.30am when the contractors were brought in and they started work.

These DBKL officers smashed three deities and took them out. We confronted them and asked for a negotiation but they continued to work until 10.30am until the cops came in and asked them to leave, Surendran toldThe Malay Mail Onlinewhen contacted.

He added that the demolition had been a surprise one as negotiation was still on-going when the contractors came in with their heavy machinery.

There was no notice, it was a demolition by ambush... they just came in a day after Merdeka and began breaking it down. Negotiation was supposed to be still on-going... and there was no court order permitting it.

It is illegal that is my position as the temples lawyer, he said.

Continued here:
Four arrested in standoff over temple demolition