An Umno Youth leader has urged Putrajaya to be bold and go after the developer with regard to the riots related to the status of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya.

Razlan Rafii said the government must not bow to capitalists as well as resolve the temple issue in a transparent and wise manner.

“The government must be bold to arrest and investigate the owners of the development firm and use its workers and law firm as witnesses. Not the other way around.

“If this had happened abroad, the firm's shares would have plummeted and brickbats would have been hurled at the capitalist firm until it is brought to justice,” he added in a statement.

Razlan, who is the Seputeh Umno vice Youth chief, said the government must unearth the root cause and the developer cannot be exempted because the land belongs to them.

“A crime has happened. Justice must be served by investigating the owner... Don't just arrest workers and lawyers, but allow the shark to escape,” he added.

Earlier, Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told Parliament that those linked to the developer attempted to enforce the temple's relocation by hiring men to secure the building, resulting in clashes and subsequent rioting.

More than 30 individuals have been arrested. Among them are three employees of One City Development Sdn Bhd, including a “lawyer” who was accused of hiring gangsters.

Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun later said the lawyer was a company adviser.

One City Development has denied hiring or authorising the use of thugs, who had intruded into the temple's premises in the wee hours of Monday morning.

In 2004, there had been a consent judgment to relocate the temple but this could not be executed due to disagreements.

One City Development is owned by MCT Bhd. The majority owner of MCT Bhd is the Philippines-based Ayala Corporation.

Ayala Corporation has vowed to cooperate in the investigation over the riots.