Police were called to the scene when violence — and flames — erupted early this morning when two rival groups clashed at the site of a Subang Jaya Hindu temple scheduled for relocation.
Two men were arrested in the 2am incident, with several videos of the action quickly making their way around social media and eliciting extensive discussion regarding who exactly was involved.
A statement by authorities this morning confirmed that 18 cars and two motorcycles were set ablaze, and a police patrol car damaged in the fracas. Videos circulating illustrate as much, with police captured in riot gear, and several participants seen with flaming torches in hand.
Twelve firefighters spent several hours attempting to douse the flames.
While the authorities have not confirmed the nature of the violent showdown, many believe that the two groups were at loggerheads over the 100-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman Temple’s relocation from where it is currently situated in USJ25 in Putra Heights, to another area. A Shah Alam court previously sanctioned the temple’s relocation in March 2014; many were displeased with the final ruling and some individuals had been keeping vigil at the temple in the hours before it was set to be demolished.
However, many netizens were angered by the Royal Malaysian Police’s initial statement on the incident, which had referred to the factions as “two groups of Indians,” as opposed to simply “two groups.”
Some watching the sundry Facebook live clips of the events unfold wondered if the developers bore some responsibility for tempers flaring over what appears to be an unpopular move for some.
Another wondered whether more devious elements were at play behind the scenes causing tension, and who exactly was behind the incident.
Land developers One City Sdn Bhd have since denied any links to the violence, reiterating that they had no role to play in the protest, and would take legal action over any claims made on the matter.
Bernama reports that the road has since been closed off, and traffic police are currently re-routing vehicles. Heavy congestion was reported this morning, despite the fact that both groups have since left the area.
