Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is pictured at Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s headquarters in Petaling Jaya November 28, 2018. ― Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

PETALING JAYA, Nov 28 — The government will not interfere in court proceedings related to the Hindu temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed today.

Dr Mahathir was asked to confirm if the government’s position was that there would be a freeze in the relocation of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple until the court resolves the matter.

“We have to go according to the rules and laws of this country.

“What the court decides, we have to obey, but if they can prove the decision was wrong, they can appeal to a higher court, we will also obey that,” he said in reply to reporters here.

When asked if the government would interfere, Dr Mahathir replied: “The government cannot interfere in the laws. The previous government yes, but not this government.”

The Seafield temple was the location of two violent clashes and rioting this week, which were linked to a land matter.

The land upon which the temple is built belongs to a private developer, with all parties including the temple management in 2014 agreeing to be relocated.

The temple was initially due for relocation on November 22.

A bid by temple devotees wanting to keep the temple on its current location is set to come up at the Shah Alam High Court tomorrow.

When asked if the Selangor government would be acquiring the land on which the temple stands, Dr Mahathir said: “I don’t know”.

Local daily The Star had earlier reported sources as saying that the Selangor government is expected to acquire ownership of the land and let the temple remain there.

Dr Mahathir also told the media not to play up the issue regarding the temple with fake news, pointing out that the Anti-Fake News Act remains in place.

He reiterated his earlier remark today that the landowner, which was expecting to move in soon after fulfilling certain conditions in a court order, had made a “mistake” in trying to secure the land where the temple is located.

“To do that, they thought they should guard it from somebody trying to disturb it, trying to destroy it.

“They made a mistake of employing Malays to guard Hindu temple, we cannot have Hindus guarding mosques.

“This is foreigners. They don’t understand the culture of the country,” he said.