What is there to object?

July 20, 2008 15:05 PM

Residents Say Proposed Bodhi Park To Close To Housing Area
SHAH ALAM, July 20 (Bernama) -- The Desa Alam Residents Association is objecting to the upcoming construction of the Bodhi Park in Section U12 here, claiming that it would be located too close to the residential area.Its chairman, Ahmad Shakri Tarmuchi, handed a memorandum from the residents to Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan at the ground-breaking ceremony of Bodhi Park on Sunday.

Remarks : The land for the Bodhi Park project was purchased from PKNS years before any development took place when the land was still covered with palm trees and swampy land. There was no residential area until recently. The project only manage to take off now due to the protracted delay in getting approvals from the authorities. The fact is that this particular site was a replacement for the original site in Section 24 as decided by the Selangor state government.

The Bodhi Park is to be located on a 0.68-hectare site, and will comprise an auditorium, a centre for Buddhist research and studies, a multipurpose hall, and a main shrine for devotees. The project is undertaken by the Malaysian Buddhist Youth Foundation.Ahmad Shakri told reporters the residents were not informed of the project by the City Council and there was no notice board at the site announcing the project from the time they had occupied the housing estate in December 2006.

The housing model layout of Desa Alam displayed at the developers office to potential purchasers clearly shows land already alloted for building of places for worship. (pic above)

Remarks: Relevant approvals already given by the authorities. Those who purchase houses at the residential area knew before hand from the developer that there will be places of worship for non-muslims at the area.

Malaysian Buddhist Youth Foundation Director Goh Seng Chai told reporters the Bodhi Park was meant for Buddhist education as well as to guide youths who had strayed back to the right path.He said the land for the project was bought from the Selangor Economic Development Corporation for RM95,844 and the sale-and-purchase agreement was signed in April 2004.

In the early 1990's, the foundation bought a 0.6-hectare piece of land in Section 24 for the project but the state government found it unsuitable for religious use and offered the alternative site in November 2002, he added.Goh said the development order for the project was approved on April 24 this year and construction was scheduled to commence in September.-- BERNAMA

Remarks : The Buddhist community has been very patient and accommodative for the sake of harmony but are the Buddhists patience and peace loving approach has been taken for granted too frequently?