P Ramasamy says the century-old temple was part of the labourers’ struggle against British policies in the 1940s and 1950s.
PETALING JAYA: The DAP has urged property giant Sime Darby Bhd to preserve a century-old Hindu temple in Bedong, Kedah, saying it was part of the independence struggle against the British colonial power.
DAP deputy secretary-general P Ramasamy, who is also Penang deputy chief minister (II), said the Muthu Mariamman temple in Harvard Estate should be spared from relocation, following a request made by Sime Darby to temple committee members.
“Although the temple committee rejected the offer of the company, Sime Darby is still insisting that the temple should be moved,” said Ramasamy.
It is understood that the land is part of a major township to be built by the government-linked developer.
Ramasamy said Bedong was witness to the struggle by estate labourers against the British colonial administration in the 1940s and 1950s.
“Sime Darby should set an example to other land owning companies by allowing the Muthu Mariamman temple to exist in Harvard estate, Bedong,” he said, adding that relocating the temple was an injustice to Hindus in the area “especially at a time when non-Muslim faiths are being subjected to all kinds of pressures from the extremist forces”.
“Sime Darby makes billions in profits every year. Giving the land to the temple would be a miniscule contribution but something that will be wholeheartedly received by the local Hindus in Bedong,” he said, adding that the company had made such gestures in the past.
Source: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/04/16/dap-urges-sime-darby-to-preserve-colonial-era-hindu-temple/