KUALA LUMPUR — Efforts to resolve the land dispute involving the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple in the Jalan Masjid India area have been ongoing for the last one-and-a-half months.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said he, the temple committee, and various parties had been in discussions to find a solution for the Hindu house of worship since the temple committee approached him then with their concerns about the temple which is to give way to a new mosque.
“They requested my assistance, and we immediately began working and liaising with the relevant parties. I had also visited the temple.
“YB P. Prabakaran (Batu MP) has also been actively assisting the temple committee. Several proposals were put forward, but the most important thing for us was to find the best solution.
“This led to a series of discussions between the temple committee and government agencies, followed by meetings throughout last week,” Gobind said at a press conference at the temple tonight.
He welcomed the announcement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr. Zaliha Mustafa this afternoon that the 130-year-old temple would be relocated to about 50 metres from its present site, and cover an area of 4,000 square feet, equivalent to the size of the current site.
He said the decision on the piece of land was agreed upon yesterday evening.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Zaliha, Prabakaran, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, and their team from DBKL for helping us find a solution,” Gobind said.
Gobind, who was recently elected DAP national chairman, also said the temple’s new land will be gazetted in the name of the temple committee, a move that is in line with the law.
“I would like to thank all parties who have contributed to resolving this matter.
“I am here tonight to visit the temple and offer prayers following the announcement earlier this afternoon regarding the new temple site,” he added.
Zaliha earlier said the new site is part of Lot PT 95, Section 40, Mukim Bandar Kuala Lumpur. The government has also reiterated its assurance that no demolition will take place at the existing temple structure, which is to continue operating as usual until the relocation process is fully completed.
The resolution comes ahead of the mosque’s groundbreaking ceremony this Thursday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who said earlier today a new mosque in the area is needed as nearby ones have reached full capacity.
He said approval for the mosque was given in 2019, and the green light for its construction was given in 2021.
The temple’s current site is on land that belongs to Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, which bought the plot from DBKL in 2014. – March 25, 2025