KUALA LUMPUR – The Minister of Federal Territories, Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, has blocked leading textile company Jakel from taking legal action against Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple to prevent racial tension. Instead, she advised Jakel to bring the matter to the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for a better resolution.
Jakel Group Managing Director, Faroz Jakel, revealed that his company had initially planned to take legal action against the temple, which is situated on a portion of Jakel’s land. The company intends to build Masjid Madani on the site, but construction has been delayed for more than a decade due to various challenges, including issues related to relocating the temple.
> “But the Federal Territories Minister (Dr. Zaliha) stopped us, citing that it could trigger racial tension,” Faroz said during the Masjid Madani groundbreaking ceremony today.
He further stated that Dr. Zaliha suggested referring the matter directly to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to find a more comprehensive solution.
Mosque Construction Delayed Since 2009
According to Faroz, Jakel’s efforts to build a mosque on the 12,142-square-foot site began in 2009 following negotiations between the company and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
> “An official offer letter from DBKL was issued on August 6, 2012, followed by a 10% deposit payment on August 8, 2012. In 2014, a sale and purchase agreement was signed, and the full payment was made.”
He explained that an application for mosque construction was submitted to the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) in July 2019, and within just 24 days, Jakel received approval. DBKL also approved the development order on February 12, 2020, and building plans were approved on June 17, 2021. The approvals have been renewed multiple times until now.
Resolution: Temple to Be Relocated 50 Meters
On Tuesday, Dr. Zaliha announced that Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple will be relocated 50 meters from its current location to make way for Masjid Madani’s construction. This decision was made after discussions between temple management and the government.
> “The temple management has agreed to relocate to a 4,000-square-foot site, the same size as the current temple,” Dr. Zaliha said.
This decision reflects the government’s efforts to maintain interfaith harmony while ensuring that the long-planned mosque construction proceeds without affecting community sensitivities. With the intervention of PM Anwar Ibrahim, the issue has now found a fair resolution for all parties.