Temples Issue Resolved

Press Release

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 March 2008 – Sime Darby Berhad is aware that there has been a spate of reports on the websites and blogs about the demolition of a Hindu temple in one of our estates.

We would like to take this opportunity to put on record what happened at Bradwall Estate in Negeri Sembilan early this month.

On the 5th of March, two small Hindu temples and a shrine at Lin Sum, which is a division of Bradwall Estate, were demolished.

Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid, Sime Darby’s Executive Vice President, Plantation & Agri-Business Division and other senior managers visited the estate that night and assured estate workers that all demolished structures would be rebuilt immediately.

Two days later, work on the small shrine next to the workers’ quarters was completed. Sime Darby, together with the estate’s temple committee and estate workers, took this opportunity to rebuild the two temples with a stronger foundation.

Both temples were designed according to the specifications of the committee. Ten days later, all foundation and structural works for both temples were completed.

The temple committee will now pick an auspicious day to perform the necessary religious rites before workers can worship there. “We tried to minimize disruption to the people’s religious practices by rebuilding the temples as quickly as possible.

“This was an unsanctioned incident and we want to assure the workers at Bradwall Estate that we are committed to correcting what happened. That is why reconstruction of the shrine and temples were completed so quickly,” said Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid.

After an investigation, the individuals responsible were disciplined.