when times we need you to...
when times we need you to be efficient, you laze around...
when times we need you to think before acting, you act first without considering the outcome...
when times you can bring us proud with two representatives to travel to space, you thought of teh tarik and batu seremban...
when times we don't fight because we want peace, you provoke us with many kinds of accusation...
i am not sure what is in their mind... read on... extracted from The Sun newspaper online...
Scuffle breaks out during temple demolition
Regina William
BUKIT MERTAJAM (Nov 17, 2006): Police were forced to fire two warning shots when a scuffle broke out while Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) enforcement workers were in the midst of tearing down a Taoist temple along Jalan Maju on Friday (Nov 17, 2006).
More than 50 MPSP enforcement personnel and about 30 police officers had cordoned off the area around the Nine Emperor God temple from as early as 8am to enable the demolition works to be conducted.
The temple committee had supposedly constructed a house of worship without prior council approval.
Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng who was at the scene with state executive councillor and Berapit state assemblyman Lau Chiek Tuan said both of them appealed to the enforcement unit to defer the demolition until the temple's statues and deities were removed.
"We tried to persuade them but they refused.
"When they started demolishing the extension structures, the temple's committee members managed to tear part of the zinc fencing and entered the temple compound.
"They, too pleaded with the council workers to stop and the scuffle started between the groups which had gathered there," she added.
Police personnel who were at the scene then fired two shots and in the ensuing free-for-all, arrested six people at the scene.
The demolition works were then halted.
Chong later went to meet council president Datuk Aris Ariffin who said the temple had been constructed illegally even though the land belonged to the temple.
"He told us there was no approval for the temple building and the council had to act based on public complaints," she said.
"The council should be sensitive when tearing down places of worship even if they are illegal structures. I don't understand the double standards practised.
"Look at Zakaria's (Port Klang assemblyman Datuk Zainal @ Zakaria Mat Deros) house which the council has not torn down despite it being illegal.
"This matter could have been solved amicably if the council had been sensitive enough," she added.
Chong claimed that after the temple authorities received a notice from the council, state executive councillor Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon and Lau met Aris and asked for a grace period before the temple was demolished.
Toh had suggested that the state exco would discuss the matter after the Nine Emperor God celebrations which ended last week.
But before the state exco could discuss the matter, the council had moved in to demolish the structure.
"Due to the council's insensitivity, matters have gotten out of hand and resulted in such a volatile situation.
"This is a regretable incident as the temple committee was willing to cooperate," Chong added.
She called on the state government and the housing and local government ministry to formulate guidelines on the necessary procedures which must be adhered to when demolishing structures especially places of worship.
Aris and other council officials could not reached for comment despite numerous attempts.
Deputy CPO SAC II Othman Harun confirmed that six persons were arrested and the case has been classified as rioting under Section 148 of the Penal Code.




