Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 25.4.2012.
Transport Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha Should Step In If No Apology Is Forthcoming From Both Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya And The Penang Port Commission (PPC) Chairman Datuk Seri Chua Soi And The Demolished Muniswarar Shrine Is Not Rebuilt Before The Next General Elections.
When will Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya and the Penang Port Commission (PPC) Chairman Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek fully apologise to the Hindu community for the demoliton of the 50 year old Hindu shrine and fulfill their promise to rebuild it? Why no follow up as just how long does it take to rebuild a Hindu shrine on a small 6.1m X 6.1 m site.
Even though PPSB Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya has announced that PPSB will bear the cost of rebuilding the demolished 50-year-old Muniswarar Hindu shrine on an area of 6.1m x 6.1m near the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal (BCT) in the Prai Industrial Area, this has been denied by the BCT general manager Abdul Halim Abdul Kader. When I visited the area on 23.4.2012, Abdul Halim stressed that he had checked with Datuk Sri Dr Hilmi’s office who affirmed that it would not be rebuilt in the same area.
If that is so, where then will the temple be rebuilt? Further when will the temple be rebuilt or is this just another of BN’s empty promises to be discarded after the next general elections. To demonstrate their remorse for demolishing the Hindu shrine, both Hilmy and Chua must fully apologise on behalf of PPC and PPSB to the Hindu community for this religious sacrilege and trampling on their religious sensitivities.
The failure of both PPC Chair Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek and PPSB Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya to immediately meet and explain to the port workers and the Hindu community why they permitted this barbaric demolition to occur is regrettable, irresponsible and disrespectful. Worse, no notice was pasted on the shrine to give prior notification of of the impending demolition.
All peace-loving Penangites who respect freedom of religion condemn this demolition. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha should step in if no apology is forthcoming from both Hilmy and Chua as well as the Hindu shrine can not be rebuilt before the next general elections.
LIM GUAN ENG
槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年4月25日在槟城乔治市光大发表的声明：
若槟州港务局主席蔡细历和槟州港口委员会主席拿督希尔米还不针对兴都庙被拆事件道歉，以及有关兴都庙无法在大选前重建的话，那交通部长拿督江作汉应该介入。
既然港务局承诺将会重建在该局地皮被拆的兴都庙，那槟州港务局主席蔡细历和槟州港口委员会主席拿督希尔米几时才打算履行他们的承诺，并就此事作出道歉呢？为何截至目前为止，尚无任何跟进行动说明何时会重建仅仅6.1公尺 X 6.1公尺的兴都庙？
即使槟州港口委员会主席拿督希尔米已经公布，称槟州港口有限公司将会在北赖工业区散装货运码头（BCT）附近面积 6.1公尺 x 6.1公尺的地皮上，重建这间50年历史兴都神龛并承担一切费用，但却被散装货运码头总经理阿都哈林所否认。我在2012年4月23日到访该地时，阿都哈林强调，他已经与拿督希尔米办公室确认，并肯定有关的兴都神龛不会在同样的地皮上重建。
如果是这样的话，那兴都神龛将会重建在哪里呢？再说，重建工作几时才开始？还是这仅仅是国阵的另一个空头承诺，一个在大选过后就抛诸脑袋后的承诺？为表示他们对拆兴都神龛的悔意，希尔米及蔡细历两人皆必需代表槟州港口委员会及槟州港务局，对他们贱踏宗教敏感，以及亵渎宗教一事，慎重地向当地的兴都社群作出道歉。
港务局主主席蔡细历及港口委员会主席希尔米无法即刻会见港口公司员工以及有关的兴都社群，讲解是次的野蛮拆庙行动，确是令人遗憾、不负责任及不尊重他人的。
所有热爱和平的槟城人都强烈谴责这次的拆庙行为。若槟州港务局主席蔡细历和槟州港口委员会主席拿督希尔米还不针对兴都庙被拆事件道歉，以及有关兴都庙无法在大选前重建的话，那交通部长拿督江作汉应该介入此事。
林冠英