Buddhist temple gets new plot

Breaking ground: Land clearing has already begun at the new site for the Nam Poh Tuat Buddhist Temple.

AFTER three restless months of waiting, a suitable plot of land has been identified for the relocation of the Nam Poh Tuat Buddhist Temple that is making way for the construction of the Besraya Eastern Expansion highway project.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Nam Poh Tuat Followers Association chairman Lee Kooi Wah, better known as Master Lee, said the new land was just behind the current temple along Persiaran Pandan 1 in Kampung Sungai Kerayong, Cheras.

“The land is 9,977 sq ft and is larger than our current premises.

“We are glad that the new location is so close by and the promises made to us have been fulfilled,” he said, adding that ownership of the land has already been transferred to his name.

Last year StarMetro highlighted the temple’s plight of receiving a demolition notice and having to move out within 16 days.

The issue attracted the attention of Deputy Federal Territories and Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, Bandar Tun Razak MCA division chairman Chiew Lian Keng, Titiwangsa Umno division chairman Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani and Federal Territory People’s Progressive Party (PPP) chief Datuk A. Chandrakumanan.

Saravanan promised to find a new location for the temple and have it properly gazetted as a religious site.

Lee said the temple had a 43-year history and the new land is currently being cleared.

“We have to raise part of the funds needed to build the new temple. We estimate the cost to be between RM400,000 and RM500,000 and the expected date of completion to be within seven months,” he said.