Apartment residents apologise, wanted dumpsite removed, not shrine (Updated) (Video)

SHAH ALAM: The residents association of the Bukit Subang Melati Apartments here have apologised for the ruckus some of its members caused over the issue of a Hindu shrine nearby, a video of which has gone viral.
Association chairman Nor Azman Mohamed said the residents' focus was actually on a nearby dumpsite which they wanted to be demolished, and not the temple.
"There has been a misunderstanding. We wanted other structures on the illegal dumpsite to be torn down, and we never wanted to touch the shrine.
"However, things got out of hand and that led to the commotion that has since gone viral. I apologise on behalf of the residents for that," Nor Azman said on Tuesday.
Nor Azman explained that the illegal dumpsite attracted stray dogs to the area, some of which had even strayed into a surau there.
"People are tired of living beside the dumpsite and the dogs have become a menace," he said.
Nor Azman claimed that the residents had also lodged complaints to the local council on the dog issue but no action has been taken.
He added that the temple caretaker K. Suresh had shown the residents the permits for the shrine.
A video on the commotion had gone viral on social media, showing several residents confronting Suresh at the shrine and hurling verbal abuses.
Meanwhile, Shah Alam City Council councillor Muhammad Shakir Ameer urged social media users to stop making it a racial issue.
He said the protest was for the residents to voice their displeasure over the dumpsite that drew stray dogs, and not over the demolition of the shrine.
Suresh admitted to taking care of 15 dogs there, but said: "My dogs never leave the yard, and they help keep out strangers loitering in the area."
Muhammad Shakir also noted that the shrine did not have a permit, and that following a meeting with several government agencies including Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Shah Alam City Council and the Land Office on Tuesday, they have decided that the dumpsite be cleared in 2 weeks.
He said the activities conducted in the dumpsite was also illegal as it was only approved by TNB for agricultural activities in 2008.
Watch the video here: