PETALING JAYA: theSun will cease collection of donations for the “Save Seafield Temple Fund” with immediate effect, following news of an amicable settlement between the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and developer One City Sdn Bhd.
The fund was initiated less than three weeks ago by Berjaya Corp Founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan as a crowdfunding initiative to buy the land occupied by the temple from the developer.
It had received contributions amounting to RM2,277,483 at press time.
Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who astutely mediated the amicable resolution, had recently announced that One City has in principle agreed to transfer the one-acre plot of land in USJ 25 to a trust for the temple, “subject to terms to be agreed upon”.
Thomas is applying to the High Court, pursuant to Section 9 of the Government Proceedings Act 1956 to guard public interest with regard to charitable trusts, for orders to constitute the trust and the appointment of trustees to manage the trust and the temple.
As such, all donors are invited to claim a refund of their contributions from theSun by producing receipts issued by Sun Media Corporation, or proof of remittance.
Donors seeking refunds may send their particulars and accompanying documents to SaveSeafieldTemple@thesundaily.com.
Contributions NOT reclaimed by Jan 18, 2019, will channelled to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple for its maintenance and upgrading expenses.
On Nov 30, Tan pledged a RM500,000 donation to kick off the crowdfunding effort as a possible solution to allow the temple to remain at the site it has occupied for more than 140 years.
His initiative was immediately supported by MCT Bhd non-independent and non-executive director Tan Sri Barry Goh, Nirvana Group founder and executive chairman Tan Sri David Kong, who each also pledged RM500,000 to the fund.
The next day, Wire and Wire Products Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Anathkumar Alagu, a businessman with a close spiritual bond to the temple, also pledged RM500,000.
Riots occurred late last month in the vicinity of the temple just before it was to be relocated following a consent judgement agreed to in 2014 by four parties – the Selangor state government, One City Development and two individuals claiming to be the temple administrators.
