AG: Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple land to be handed to temple trustees

PETALING JAYA: A comprehensive settlement is in the works to resolve the land issue involving the Seafield Sri Maha Marimman temple in USJ 25, says Attorney General Tommy Thomas.

The AG said that an arrangement has been reached during a meeting earlier this week with the lawyers representing all the parties involved in the dispute of the land.

"Subject to terms to be agreed upon, One City Development Sdn Bhd will transfer the one acre plot of land on which the temple is located to a trust to be administered by the High Court.

"The AG will apply to the High Court pursuant to Section 9 of the Government Proceedings Act 1956 for orders to constitute the trust and the appointment of trustees to manage the trust and the temple.

"The High Court will be invited to appoint a Receiver, who will be a person of repute, who as an officer of the court will have control and direction over the trustees of the temple, and subject to court supervision.

"At the appropriate time, the High Court will be invited to transfer the ownership of the land on which the temple is situate to the trustees," he said in the statement on Friday (Dec 14).

Thomas added that to ensure impartiality and neutrality amongst the various groups in the issue, the AG should be represented in all the applications before the High Court.

"In the spirit of consensus, and a give and take approach by all the parties concerned, an amicable resolution of all the matters in dispute can be achieved in the coming months," he said.

One City Development Sdn Bhd, also in a statement responded saying that it supported the settlement put forth by the AG.

“This includes a proposal to transfer the one acre plot of land on which the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple is located to a trust, subject to terms to be agreed upon by the parties involved.

“We understand that there are various steps to the resolution proposed by the AG and we are committed to working closely with the AG’s Chambers,” it said in the statement.