Violence erupts, cars set ablaze after masked men storm Hindu temple in Selangor

SUBANG JAYA (Malaysia) — Several people were injured and multiple cars set ablaze after a group of masked men stormed the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Selangor’s Subang Jaya township early Monday (Nov 26).

Police and the Federal Reserve Unit were called in and roads around the area were closed, said the Subang Jaya district police on Facebook.

According to reports, some 150 masked men were at the scene at 2am to demolish the Hindu temple. Residents tried to stop them by surrounding the place of worship.

The stand-off descended into chaos when both sides clashed, resulting in several people getting injured and vehicles set on fire.

A Selangor Fire and Rescue spokesperson said they received an emergency call on the disturbance at 4.38am, and six personnel from the Subang Jaya station were deployed in one fire engine to the scene.

“When we arrived at the location, we noticed two vehicles ablaze on the side of the road.

“We attempted to douse the flames, but were prevented from doing so by the rioters. (So) we decided to await further instructions from the police, who were already at the scene,” he said when contacted on Monday.

He added that of the 18 vehicles set on fire, two were cars parked by the side of the road, 16 were cars parked at the temple, and two were motorcycles.

The police have arrested 7 men. The suspects are all in their 30s.

A chariot damaged in the incident at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya. Photo: The Malaysian Insight

A resident said the incident was not a racial riot and accused a developer in the area of hiring thugs to demolish the temple. One City Developer, which said it owns the tract of land the temple sits on, denied it was behind the attack.

Selangor chief minister Amirudin Shari said: “I contacted Selangor police chief Mazlan Mansor this morning and he gave an assurance that police will investigate the incident thoroughly."

“It was misunderstanding between two groups and does not involve racial elements,” he added in a statement. 

“I ask all parties to remain calm and not to issue any statement that is racial, hateful or seditious in nature.”

Devotees said on Monday that they will not be cowed.

Temple priest S Jayakumar said that they will not vacate the temple and wanted the state government to step in to solve the issue.

“We are not going to leave this temple and we don’t want any more Hindu temples to be demolished,” he said. 

“We voted for the new government and we want them to help us solve the issue. Why is this happening to the minority (group)?” AGENCIES