COMMENT | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s characterisation of the Hindu temple in question as illegally constructed must not be allowed to go unchallenged because it was at the root of the dispute and accounts of what happened differ.

His contention is that the temple in the Jalan Masjid India area in Kuala Lumpur had been built there without the permission of its owners, including the current owner textile company Jakel Group and the previous owner Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

The controversy was over a piece of land on Jalan Munshi Abdullah off Jalan Masjid India, which houses the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple, built in 1893, the demolition of which is being opposed by many groups. 

Soon after Anwar made his announcement today, the temple committee, in a surprising turn of events, said it had agreed yesterday for the temple to be relocated to a nearby location.

However, there are still many unanswered questions remaining in this issue.