Malaysia’s Home Minister held a press conference today, putting an end to widespread speculation over the violence that took place late Sunday night and early Monday morning between two groups over the relocation of a Hindu temple: Police investigators have told him that the leader of one of the factions was paid RM150,000 (US$35,000) by the developer’s lawyers to pay off “thugs” for hire.
Muhyiddin Yassin told reporters that about 50 of the men seen causing trouble in the clip were paid between RM150 to RM300 (US$35-70) for their participation in what amounted to violence that resulted in one firefighter left fighting for his life in a Kuala Lumpur ICU.
“Because they hired Malays to ‘take care of things’ at a Hindu temple, you can imagine the reaction it would trigger.
“As an example, imagine what would happen if you send Hindus to take care of a mosque?” said Muhyiddin this afternoon.
His comments are particularly pointed after initial police reports on social media had dismissed the encounter as a fight between “Indians,” a fact that many of those watching live social media clips denied. Not to mention the unnecessarily racial overtones.
The Home Minister also confirmed that two lawyers affiliated with developers One City have also been arrested.
Rumors that the developers were involved in instigating the violent clash between two temple committee factions 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. This was something that One City categorically denied.
A Shah Alam court had 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.
