Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 26.4.2012..
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhydin Yassin in his visit to Penang today should direct 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 to make a full and unconditional apology to the Hindu community for demolishing the 50 year old Hindu shrine and rebuild the shrine immediately before the next general elections. The demolition of the shrine on 20 April at the Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal in the Prai Industrial Area, shocked devotees as it was done by PPSB without any demolition notice pasted on the shrine.
Whilst the Penang state government welcomes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recent announcement of RM 8.5 million in development funds to the Nibong Tebal Parlimentary constituency, many Penangites are disappointed that he did not give the same amount to each of the other 12 Parliamentary constituencies in Penang. Such discrimination against the other 12 parliamentary constituencies, including BN areas, is regrettable as it gives the impression that only Nibong Tebal parliamentary constituency matters for BN at the next general elections.
Further some Nibong Tebal residents are also unhappy that the Prime Minister did not give any money to the newly approved Seberang Perai Selatan Jit Sin Secondary school, whose organizers are seeking RM 20 million of Federal funding for the RM 30 million school. Hopefully Tan Sri Muhyidin will not disappoint the Indian community by directing PPC and PPSB to fully repent for their outrage to the Hindu community.
Prai Bulk Cargo Terminal (BCT) Abdul Halim Abdul Kader has told me when I visited the area on 23.4.2012, that there are no plans by PPSB to rebuild the 50 year old Hindu shrine on a small 6.1m X 6.1 m site. So far there is only silence from PPC Chair Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek and PPSB Chairman Dato Seri Dr. Hilmi Bin Hj. Yahaya, who is also the UMNO ADUN for Teluk Bahang.
The Penang state government hopes that Tan Sri Muhydin understands the sentiments of the Indian port workers and the Hindu community who are hurt by what they perceive as a barbaric act of demoliton done without any notice on their religious place of worship. Tan Sri Muhydin should make PPC and PPSB realize that nothing less than an apology and rebuilding the Hindu shrine can atone for their grievous mistake.
Lim Guan Eng
—Mandarin Version–
槟州首席部长林冠英于2012年4月26日在槟城乔治市光大发表的声明：
丹斯里慕尤应该指示槟州港口委员会及槟州港务局针对拆除50年历史的兴都庙一事，无条件地作出道歉，并在大选前重建有关兴都神龛。
在此次抵槟之行，副首相丹斯里慕尤应该指示槟州港口委员会主席拿督希尔米及槟州港务局主席拿督斯里蔡细历医生针对拆除50年历史的兴都庙一事，无条件及全面作出道歉，并在大选前重建有关兴都神龛。这宗拆庙事件在4月20日发生在北赖工业区散装货运码头（BCT），让信徒感到震惊的是，槟州港口有限公司在没有发出任何通知的情况下就直接将兴都神龛拆除了。
虽然槟州人民对首相拿督斯里纳吉最近宣布拨出850万令吉给高渊国会选区作发展基金一事表示欢迎，但是很多槟州人民也对首相没有拨款给州内其他12个国会选区一事表示遗憾。这种歧视另12个国会选区，包括国阵选区的作法令人感到遗憾，并让人感觉，对国阵而言，只有高渊选区是下届大选时被重视的。
再说，高渊区的选民也对首相没有宣布拨款给刚被批准建校的威南日新分校而感到失望。目前建委会需要3千万的建校基金，并正向联邦政府申请2千万令吉的拨款。我们希望丹斯里慕尤丁此行，不要让印裔族群失望，因此希望他能指示槟州港口委员会及槟州港务局对他们激怒印也来族群的举动表示忏悔。
北赖散装货运码头总经理阿都哈林在我2012年4月23日到访该地时告诉我，槟州港口有限公司并没有计划重建这个被拆除，建于面积 6.1公尺 x 6.1公尺的地皮的50年历史兴都神龛。截至目前为止，槟州港务局主席拿督斯里蔡细历医生及也是直落巴巷州议员的槟州港口委员会主席拿督希尔米一直保持沉默。
槟州政府希望丹斯里慕尤丁明白印裔港口员工及印裔社群的情绪，他们视无预告拆庙为一种野蛮的行为。丹斯里慕尤丁应该要让丹斯里慕尤应该指示槟州港口委员会及槟州港务局针对拆除50年历史的兴都庙一事，无条件道歉，并重建有关兴都神龛，才可以弥补他们的过错。
林冠英