Temple incident not a racial clash — priest

SUBANG JAYA: The scuffle at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ25, Putra Heights, early yesterday has nothing to do with rivalry among the Indian community or with other races, said the temple chief priest, Jeyakumar Subramaniam.

On the contrary, he said, there was a deliberate attempt of provocation by certain quarters which linked the incident to a racial clash.

“It was not a clash between two Indian groups. Those in the temple compound during the incident were Indians and Hindus (who were in the temple) and they were ordered to come out.

“The way those who ordered them out in Malay showed that they are not from here. They are not Malays,” he said to reporters.

Several people were injured and 18 cars and two motorcycles were torched during what was reported as a clash between two groups at about 2.30 am at the temple. The police had arrested seven men as of noon, two of them as they sought treatment at the Serdang Hospital.

Meanwhile, Batu MP P. Prabakaran said the incident involved one group that had been made the scapegoat by certain quarters to create a commotion.

He said the incident was not racial and the people should remain calm and not issue any statement of a racial nature.

“I understand that the incident was sparked by a misunderstanding over compensation and the vacating of the temple site.

“This is not a racial issue, this is a temple issue. I want the police to conduct a thorough investigation to determine who blew up the issue,” he said to reporters after a visit to the temple. - Bernama