JOHOR BARU, Jan 21 — MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam today said he regarded the issue on the recent demolition of a temple in Seri Alam as resolved after the temple management agreed to move to a new to a new site provided by the state government.

Speaking to reporters here, he said he went with the temple management to visit the new site and they reached a consensus on the matter.

"For us, the issue is resolved and should not be brought up again. We hope the Indian community accepts this solution and do not play with emotions.

"They (temple management) have also been asked to move as soon as possible as the state government had provide a land, covering 0.4 hectare, also in Seri Alam,” he said at the Transformation of House of Worship programme at Sekolah  Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Masai here today.

Subramaniam, who is also Health Minister, said the MIC expressed its appreciation and thanks to Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar for their concern and in providing the new site for the temple.

The 80-year-old temple was the centre of a controversy recently when it was demolished last January 11 following a court order obtained by the land owner.

It is learnt that the state government had also offered the temple management a new piece of land before, but it was rejected by the management who wanted to remain at the present location.

On the transformation of house of worship, Subramaniam said six temples would be the pioneers in the programme to be carried out nationwide.

He said the objective of the programme was to ensure temples organised community activities other than religious programmes.

"These community activities include academic guidance classes, activities to help the poor increase their income, for single mothers, youths and such.

"These will help bring the temple closer to the community and become a centre of community change,” he said. — Bernama