A TOUCHY issue indeed.
Coupled with the heated political landscape, the topic of illegal temple structures has become a national discourse on race and religion with certain parties keen to fans the flames to suit their agendas.
However, a landowner in Sepang who is facing this very issue has called for calm and not let this issue be politicised.
As shared on The News current affairs portal, a pensioner expressed his shock and disappointment when he found that his private land had been encroached upon with a temple built without his permission or knowledge.
The land encroachment issue was uncovered when the owner visited the site recently for a routine inspection.
Strict action was taken by issuing a seven-day notice to the temple management to demolish the building structure themselves and return the land to its original condition.
Demolition to ensue on Jan 9
This encroachment not only violates individual property rights but the construction was also found to have not received planning permission from the local authority (PBT).
This issue is now receiving the attention of the authorities to ensure that there is no tension between the parties involved.
The landowner stressed that he was only claiming his rights as a legal grant holder and hoped that all parties would respect the country’s land laws without involving any racial or religious sentiments.
If the temple fails to comply with the one-week notice, forced demolition action will be carried out according to existing legal procedures.
It would appear the landowner’s pleas to let the law takes it course and for it to be settled amicably has been roundly ignored.
When shared chronologically on X by isu apa hari ini (@dahfollowbelum), the matter drew plenty of angry reactions and no small amount of vulgarity and racist invective.
UPDATE TIBA TIBA ADA KUIH HARAM:
Pemilik dah bagi notis seminggu untuk perobohan. Dalam masa seminggu, kena alih semua patung dan harta milik kuil yang ada. Pada 9 Januari 2026, kita akan datang dengan excavator untuk ambil semula tanah milik Tuan Suhaili
KRONOLOGI KAT BAWAH 👇 pic.twitter.com/bckAJKUxoF
— isu apa hari ini (@dahfollowbelum) January 2, 2026
Here, the poster furnished a more detailed timeline of affairs by revealing that the landowner identified as Suhaili Ahmad had in fact purchased the land in 2001.
A surau and shrine which had been on the land were apparently given alternate locations to resettle. The landowner also proceeded to rent out space for an advertising sign to be erected.
Adding fuel to the fire, the post on X also shared social media posts allegedly from the landowner who claimed he was “rudely shouted at by women at the temple who behaved as if he was the trespasser”.
The retiree also apparently complained to the land office in Sepang but was instead asked why he didn’t fence up the land in the first place.
Eventually, the post by isu apa hari ini claimed that “a deadline of Jan 9 had been set when the excavators will be called in to re-possess the land belonging to Tuan Suhaili”.
Highlighting the inflammatory and sensitive nature of the issue, one commenter who is familiar with the issue challenged the pre-conception of illegal temples as being built without permission.
Stating that this was former estate land and that the temple had been erected with permission from the previous landowners, he argued that the potential buyer should have done due diligence before buying the land.
However, his argument was instantaneously shot down by those who took the side of the landowner as a “lame and common modus operandi” by those responsible in erecting illegal shrines.
Expect this issue to rumble on as interested parties seize upon it to create even more disharmony.
Nothing raises the heckles more than politics mixed with a good dash of religion. Throw in some choice racist invective and the issue goes beyond mere illegal squatting.
It is, however, hoped that an amicable settlement can be found not just for the benefit of the beleaguered landowner but also the sake of all peace-loving Malaysians. – Jan 6, 2026
Editor’s Note: According to the Sepang District and Land Department, the onus is on the landowner to seek his own legal recourse given the encroachment occurs in a private property as opposed to land owned by the government, reserve land or mining land.
