Mahkota Cheras Chinese Temple

It has come to my attention that construction of a Chinese Temple has commenced at the Children's Playground near Jalan Permaisuri 1/6 of Section 6 in Bandar Mahkota Cheras amidst serious objections from the houseowners along the stretch facing the playground and from other residents living in that area.

Apparently, the Kajang Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Kajang - MPKJ) had earlier sent notice of this project to the houseowners seeking their feedback and possible objections to the same. After some written protest, as these residents did not want to lose the playground and the land it was on, the MPKJ "invited" them to a meeting at the MPKJ headoffice located at Jalan Cempaka Putih, Off Jalan Semenyih, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Darul Ehsan. At this meeting, they were informed that the project had already been approved by the MPKJ and that the letter sent requesting for feedback was only a formality. Reportedly, the temple's representative also had the nerve to tell one resident that they were initially "offered" 2 choices and they had chosen the playground for obvious reasons and also that nothing would deter the project as they had gotten it approved by the MPKJ.

While we are living in a multiracial society, it is extremely rare to find Chinese Temples along major main roads in the community. Although nice the fact harbors that some abuse of power may have taken place since there is a MPKJ notice board erected on this piece of land quoting the 1976 Land Act, forbidding the use of the land for any other purpose than it's original purpose of a children's playground and badminton court. This brings to mind a similar case at Bukit Gasing where original plans for the land development deviated.

It will be a sad day for these residents when the project is completed as they would not only have lost an area for recreation and leisure activities, but they would have also been short changed in their purchase of their residential properties since they did not expect they would have a house fronting a place of worship. Least of all, the various pollution from increased traffic during festivities, incense smoke, and noise.