MBPJ: Bukit Gasing temple still closed to the public

BY Yip Yoke Theng
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/2/10/central/8031943&sec=central

CRACKS have appeared on the roof of the Sivan Temple atop Bukit Gasing, said Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officers during their periodic checks on the structure perched precariously on the sensitive slope.

During a briefing on Tuesday at the MBPJ headquarters, it was reiterated that the temple was still not open to public as claimed by Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan and Human Rights Party secretary-general P. Uthaya-kumar, because the site was still deemed unstable.

The temple’s board of trustees assured attendees at the briefing that stabilisation works were going on and they were also removing several non-essential structures in an effort to reduce the risk of landslips.

Fear factor: A photo taken by MBPJ officers showing that cracks have appeared on the roof of Sivan Temple, Bukit Gasing (inset).

Three landslips had occurred near the temple since 2007 following the temple’s expansion, which was carried out without approvals and later slapped with a stop-work order. Stabilisation works were then carried out but it still failed to prevent the last landslip from happening last month.

Councillor Derek Fernandez, who chaired the briefing, requested that the trustees submit applications with all relevant work plans within 48 hours for the intended demolition and other additional works, to which the latter agreed.

The trustees also agreed to implement interim measures including placing warning signage while the works take place.

It was also learned that the stabilisation works had been delayed due to financial constraint but the trustees had pledged to resolve that.

Also present at the briefing were Selangor state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee’s aide and representatives from the relevant authorities including Public Works Institute (Ikram).

“The temple cannot be opened to the public until Ikram declares the site or slope is safe. Public safety is of utmost importance,” Fernandez said.

He said the council could not give the temple a timeframe for the stabilisation works as they needed to study the plans to be submitted.

He also explained that the state could only go ahead with the de-gazettement of the said land from forest reserve to religious use after the site’s safety and stability had been guaranteed.

Dr Xavier said the council, Ikram and the temple’s trustees had been working closely to address the issue, and called for patience as slope stabilisation would take a long time.

“Safety comes first. The temple cannot be opened for now because it poses a danger to the public. Once safety is ensured, the state will hand over the land to the temple’s trustees,” he said.

Trustee Datin Sri Indrani Samy Vellu said they were willing to abide by the council’s requirements.

She said the temple was not open but allowed access to a controlled number of worshippers on certain days so that the deities would not be left idle.