Kuala Lumpur, Dec.25: Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leaders have been asked by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to prepare a report on temples in the country monitored by the MIC.

According to MIC President S. Samy Vellu, Badawi specifically wanted the MIC to forward to him and the Cabinet the list of any temples that may have to be demolished for various reasons.

“As temple issues are sensitive, a new approach is necessary to resolve them and the MIC will completely take over this task,” Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, was quoted by The Star, as saying on Monday.

Vellu said he would be travelling to all the states soon to prepare a report on the number of temples in the country and their problems.

“We will identify the illegally-built temples first and check on their status. We want to know if there have been any moves or notices to demolish or relocate them,” he said.

Following Badawi’s directive, Vellu has asked the Federal Territory MIC chief Datuk M. Saravanan and Selangor state executive councillor Kamala Ganapathy to organise a meeting of temple heads in their respective states.

He said the meetings were to verify the status of the land on which the temples were built, to secure land reservations in all new housing development areas and to seek the registration of all temples.

He said similar meetings would be held in other states, with the third meeting scheduled in Perak.

Vellu said Badawi has given an assurance that the Government would provide the necessary support in resolving matters involving temples. (ANI)