SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government had already planned for a dialogue session with the Section 23 residents over the temple relocation issue but some groups jumped the gun and started protesting.
Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad said the state had announced in early last month that it would seek the people's views on this issue.
He said seeking the residents' views was usually the last move before a project was approved.
"There's no point in getting residents views before all the local regulatory approvals are obtained," he said when contacted yesterday.
In this temple issue, he said, the approvals from the State Economic Development Corporation (PKNS) as the landowner were only received recently, and the Shah Alam City Council's (MBSA) nod was obtained after that.
"It was then approved in the state executive council.
"Getting the residents views was the next natural step but some people jumped the gun."
He said PKNS had put up hoardings at a large area, which also included the area where the temple would be located, after receiving numerous complaints about the thick undergrowth and undesirable elements it was attracting.
"PKNS wanted to clean up the area but some people mistakenly thought that the temple construction was going to start."
Khalid said that this and other events had culminated in the cow's head protest last Friday.
Following the protest, the Selangor government will be having a town hall meeting this Saturday to hear arguments from all sides.
"I hope people will be reasonable in their arguments and views."
Asked what the state would do if the objections still remained, he said "we will cross that bridge when we come to it".
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