PUTRAJAYA, Oct 10 ― A group opposing the proposed sale of land belonging to the Sri Subramaniam Temple in Batu Caves today demanded the Attorney-General charge temple committee chairman Tan Sri R. Nadarajah over their allegations of graft in the deal.
Calling themselves the Save Batu Caves Land Action Council (SBCLAC), the group previously lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on September 8, accusing Nadarajah and temple committee members of corruption based on alleged minutes of a meeting on June 22.
“Why isn’t the government taking any action? Why are they keeping quiet? We want action to be taken,” SBCLAC advisor M. Manoharan said after the group submitted a memorandum to the AGC here today.
According to Manoharan, the minutes said the temple will only receive RM62 million out of the RM250 million sale.
The land, located along Jalan Ipoh was donated to the temple in 1958 by a money lender known as Thambipillay for the welfare of the Hindu community.
Manoharan said that the decision to prosecute was the prerogative of the Attorney-General, as provided for under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution.
But it is unclear if the MACC has begun investigations into the report or if it has submitted this to the federal prosecutors. The AGC decides whether or not to pursue cases based on the investigation papers its receives.
Manoharan also mentioned that SBCLAC will submit the same memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s office to look into the matter.
Other committee members present at the handover included Port Dickson assemblyman M. Ravi, Krishnan Samy and S. Barathirdasan, who presented the memorandum to Asmawar Samat, Director of Special Projects, a representative of the AGC.
