MALAYSIA, November 2, 2011 (NST): The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry will help legalize about 70 illegal Hindu temples in the city by 2013. Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said the temples, which are mainly in residential areas, have been vetted by ministry officials to comply with the criteria for legalization.
The temples include the 20-year-old Sri Mathuraveeran Alayam that has been operating in Jalan Datuk Haji 4, Taman Tan Yew Lai in Overseas Union Garden.
However, he said several temples may be combined or relocated subject to the availability of land. He also issued a reminder to the community that the ministry and its agencies would not tolerate new temples trespassing on its land. “The government will help where it can. However, I urge the community to be reasonable. We sometimes cannot ascribe significance to a land based on sacred trees or auspicious locations.”