MPKj withdraws notice for temple to reduce its noise level

The Star, Wednesday January 23, 2013

PETALING JAYA: The Kajang Muni­cipal Council (MPKj) has withdrawn its notice requiring the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Bangi Lama to reduce its “noise” level and cease all religious activities after 6pm, said its president Datuk Hassan Nawawi.

The cancellation notice, he said, was issued after a meeting with temple committee officials last week.

Nawawi said the notice for the temple to reduce its “noise” level had been issued based on a resident’s complaint of an increase in volume during special prayers between Dec 15 and Jan 13.

“We received the first complaint in December 2010 and the first notice was issued in Feb 17 last year. But following another complaint received this year, a second notice was issued on Jan 8,” he said.

MPKj councillor S.T. Chandra­mo­han said it had taken steps to cancel the notice as well as apologise to the temple committee.

“The council officers were given clear instructions that the notice should be to tone down the noise from the speakers and not to stop the ringing of the bells, as claimed by certain quarters,” he said.

Teluk Intan MP M. Manoharan said all places of worship should not be disturbed.

“Consensus and discussion should be encouraged,” he said, adding that it was Pakatan Rakyat’s policy not to demolish any temple.