July 10, 2013: I welcome the recent announcement of the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) president that a special task force will be set up by the Selangor government to study all documents and technical reports of the existing structures and buildings in and around the Batu Caves temple grounds to ensure its safety and legality.

I was taken aback to learn that several buildings and structures in the temple grounds have been erected without prior approval from the authorities. I can understand the temple committee’s dilemma on issues related to getting approval from the authorities for such building purposes. However, the temple committee should not take public safety for granted and put up buildings and structures as they like in the name of upholding the Hindu religion. The temple committee should not exploit the Hindu community sentiments for its perceived illegal activities. A true Hindu devotee will not support illegal and questionable activities of the temple committee.

 Batu Caves is a major Hindu congregation religious center. During the annual colourful Thaipusam   festival, every inch of the temple grounds is occupied. Hundreds of thousands of devotees and tourist converge there during the festival. It is normal to see many bus loads of tourist visiting the Batu Caves temple grounds on other days. As such it is the obligation of the temple committee and the local authorities to ensure that the temple grounds especially new buildings and structure are safe and secured.

 The temple committee should view the “interest” shown by the MPS with regards to the safety of the buildings and structures within the temple grounds as a blessing in disguise. As far as I can see it, the MPS is doing a favour for the temple committee and for the Hindu community in ensuring that the buildings are safe for the public. We have read and seen so many tragedies of scores of people being killed and injured seriously due to the collapse of unsafe buildings and structures within the country and overseas.

I appreciate the temple committee’s intention of wanting to put up the cable car for the benefit of the devotees especially for the use of the aged and disabled devotees and visitors. However, I don’t understand why is the temple committee rushing into the cable car project without getting the safety and other legal clearance from the authorities?

It’s time the  Batu Caves Temple committee especially its president N Nadaraja takes note of the reality and cooperate with the authorities to put things right. It’s no point for the temple committee to waste public money in challenging the authorities in the courts when it is crystal clear that he is going to lose. The committee should also realise that the Selangor government has been fair to all races and religion and they will certainly do their best to help the Batu Caves temple committee.

The temple president should tone down his voice and learn to communicate in a diplomatic manner when dealing with the authorities. If the temple president continues to throw tantrums in the public and throws his weight around it will only affect the Hindu community.

 Perhaps it’s time the MIC leadership which has a strong say in who leads the temple committee and how it operates to consider a revamp of the temple committee. If the MIC fails to take corrective measures, the general Hindu public should call for the authorities to set up a Hindu Endowment Board (HEB) similar to the one in Penang and Singapore. The setting up of the HEB will pave way for a smooth running of the temple activities including the handling of its assets under the administration of legally appointed board members.

Source: Free Malayasia Today, DT. July 10, 2013.