MALAYSIA, May 26, 2011 (The Star): Thieves desecrated three Kuala Selangor temples and stole gold platelets and navarathinam (precious stones) placed in the sanctum ground before a Hindu Deity is installed, Tamil Nesan reported.
The three estate temple managements Tuan Mee, Coalfield and Kg Kuantan were shocked when the theft was discovered early Tuesday. Religious dictates require gold platelets and precious stones to be placed in the temple sanctum ground where the Deity is installed. Tuan Mee estate Sri Maha Mariamman Temple chairman S. Subanathan estimated the thieves would have netted 40 kilos of gold as well as the stones.
The Coalfield estate temple chairman M. K. Bala said this was the first time that such an incident had occurred at the 150-year-old temple but could not place a figure on the stolen gold.