PUTRAJAYA: Lawyers for property developer One City Development Sdn Bhd paid RM150,000 to a group of men to encroach, take over and secure the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in USJ25, Putra Heights.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, in announcing this, said this was the findings of a police investigation into the two-day riots which, apart from incurring property damage, also left a fireman battling for his life.
“Police investigations showed that the lawyers engaged a group of Malay men to enter, take over and secure the temple while awaiting the arrival of the developer’s representatives, as well as the police, on the morning of Nov 26.
“The RM150,000 was paid to the gang leader, who had about 50 men for the job. Each of the men were paid between RM150 and RM300 to carry out the work,” he said.
Muhyiddin slammed the act, saying that apart from being illegal, it also incurred the wrath of Hindu devotees in the area and led to fights and property damage.
He said he was disappointed by the hasty and negligent acts of those linked to the developer, which clearly broke the law.
“Had they not embarked on this action, I believe that the fight between the Malay group and the Hindu devotees at the temple would not have occurred,” he told a press conference at the ministry on Wednesday.
Also present was Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
A total of 21 people, including two of the property developer’s lawyers, have been arrested so far in connection with the issue.
The temple is the subject of a tug-of-war between One City, which owns the land, as well as several people linked to the temple management committee.
While the developer had paid compensation to the committee to move the temple, arguments have broken out between those linked to the committee, which had torpedoed efforts to move the temple.
Muhyiddin stressed that the incident was not race-related, and was purely due to a dispute between the developer and temple committee members on the land ownership.
Asked whether the lawyers had acted on their own, or upon One City’s instructions, Muhyiddin replied that the authorities are working on the assumption that there is a link between the lawyers and developer in this case.
“Our assumption is that they are One City lawyers and they were given an allocation.
"I doubt that the lawyers would be so generous. Surely there must be a link to contributions from the company to solve the problem," he said.
Muhyiddin said police are still continuing their investigations to identify even more persons of interest.
“I believe the police will complete their investigation soon and bring those involved to justice as soon as possible,” he said.
He also urged for the land ownership dispute to resolved amicably and in accordance with the law.
“No one should manipulate this issue and stir racial tension. Police have been instructed to take stiff action against those who make racial provocation, spread fake, slanderous and malicious news as well as organise gatherings to fan racial sentiments,” he warned.
One City, in an immediate response, categorically denied “hiring or authorising the hiring of “thugs” to initiate the riot in the temple.
“The personnel onsite were directed to provide logistical support and assist in the orderly relocation under police watch. It continues to cooperate with the police authorities in the investigation of the incident,” it said in a brief statement.
It had on on Monday “categorically and strenuously” denied allegations that it was involved in the altercation at the temple. In a statement, the developer had also denied that it had started the scuffle.
The company had condemned “any acts of violence or any insinuations that it would resort to such despicable acts” and said it reserves the right to take legal action against anyone who makes such allegations.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy had on Tuesday stated that the temple would not be demolished until an amicable solution is reached.
On the injuries sustained by fi
reman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, Muhyiddin said the ministry would seek justice for the fireman.
“We are investigating the matter. We are urging eyewitnesses to come forward. Efforts are being made to collect fingerprints from the door of the fire engine as we need facts to identify those responsible for injuring the fireman,” he said.
Muhammad Adib, 24, was among the firemen who had responded to an emergency call at the temple on early Tuesday morning. The team were deployed to put out a car fire.
Initial reports said he was dragged out of a fire engine and assaulted by rioters. He sustained broken ribs and internal damage in the 1am incident.
On former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s view that the incident could be controlled if a curfew order is given by the state police chief, Muhyiddin said that while he respected Musa’s views, such measures were unnecessary.
“For now, police have the situation under control with the mobilisation of 1,400 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel to the area.
“A curfew would require us to take into account various matters including the public, who would be allowed to move freely,” he said, adding that a curfew would also impact businesses.