Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Tuesday gave the assurance that the Batu Caves area will be preserved.
He said if the Barisan Nasional (BN) was able to re-capture Selangor in the coming general election, it would annul the 29-storey condominium project in the area and instead, propose for Batu Caves to be declared a world heritage site.
Najib said Batu Caves was close to the hearts of Hindus not only in Malaysia but also abroad as they considered it to be a holy place.
"We do not want development in this area to threaten the future of the Batu Caves complex," he said when addressing the crowd that had thronged the Deepavali Open House organised by MIC at the Batu Caves Complex.
Many quarters have objected to the implementation of the proposed condominium project, planned to be built near the limestone hill at the complex.
On the move to make Batu Caves a world heritage site, Najib said the matter would have to be brought to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation (Unesco) after Malaysia completed its term as a member of the World Heritage Commission in 2015.
This effort will be made through the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry.
"We cannot submit the application now because there may be a conflict of interest. Our term ends in 2015 and after that we will submit our official request for the Batu Caves Complex to be declared by Unesco as a world heritage site," he added.
In his speech, Najib also announced that the Deepavali public holiday would also be observed in the Federal Territory of Labuan.
"Although Labuan does not have many Hindus, but because Labuan is also part of the Federal Territories, they are also eligible to observe the day as a public holiday," said Najib.
He regarded the Deepavali Open House organised by MIC, held at Batu Caves for the second time, as a merry one and the crowd gathered at the premises as a reflection of the 1Malaysia spirit.
"The 1Malaysia spirit which is supported by mutual respect among the races, religions and cultures which as been nurtured for so long is the pillar of our country," he added.
Najib later attended the Deepavali open house organised by the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) at Rumah Puspanita here where he was greeted on arrival by MAICCI president Datuk K.K.Eswaran.
Present were Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa, Raja Nong Chik, Liow, Koh and Wanita Umno Chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil as well as Najib's son Nor Ashman.
Before leaving the event where guests included orphans and underprivileged children about 45 minutes later, Najib cut a three-tiered Deepavali cake and received a garland of flowers from Eswaran.
Meanwhile, Eswaran urged the Indian community to give their full support to the government and the prime minister, and stressed on the importance of practising the 1Malaysia concept.
He said under Najib, the government extended assistance which allowed more Indians to participate in the business sector including small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
"The Indian business community can't complain any more and must give full support to Datuk Seri Najib because he has shown his concern towards us," he said, citing the RM180 million special allocation for Indian entrepreneurs as an example.
Najib then headed for the Federal Territory People's Progressive Party's (PPP) Deepavali do in Jalan Sentul here which was attended by PPP president Datuk M.Kayveas, Federal Territory PPP chairman Datuk A.Chandrakumanan and party senior vice-president Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz as well as other cabinet members and politicians.
Bernama
Tue Nov 13 2012
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Hasrat Ami bawa keluarga bercuti tidak kesampaian - Kakak
Kakak kepada Allahyarham berkongsi adiknya itu sering meluahkan hasrat berkenaan ketika membuat panggilan video bersama keluarga.
Ahli Parlimen, ADUN Bersatu diberi tempoh 14 hari nyata pendirian - Hamzah
Semua wakil rakyat Bersatu termasuk enam Ahli Parlimen dan ADUN yang berpaling tadah dengan menyatakan sokongan kepada Kerajaan Perpaduan diberi tempoh 14 hari untuk menyatakan pendirian mereka.
Resit tular: Polis rekod keterangan lapan individu
Polis telah merekodkan keterangan lapan individu bagi membantu siasatan berhubung kes resit yang didakwa tertera perkataan menghina Islam.
PM Anwar tiba di Uzbekistan untuk lawatan rasmi tiga hari
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tiba di sini hari ini untuk memulakan lawatan rasmi tiga hari ke Uzbekistan.
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Penduduk terkejut, bimbang
Penduduk kampung Afiq Ibrahim, 19, bimbang dengan kejadian terbabit yang pertama kali berlaku dan mahu kawalan keselamatan dipertingkatkan.
Impak lawatan PM kepada perdagangan, pelaburan Malaysia
Temu bual bersama Pengarah Urusan CSQ International Consulting, Shamsul Qamar Abd Rani dalam melihat kepada impak perdagangan dan pelaburan Malaysia susulan lawatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Penolong pegawai mengaku tidak bersalah kemuka tuntutan palsu, salah guna harta
Seorang penolong pegawai Jabatan Perangkaan Negeri Melaka berhadapan enam pertuduhan mengemukakan tuntutan palsu dan menyalahgunakan harta.
Pantau Agenda Reformasi: Apa kedudukan 6 MP & 1 ADUN Bersatu?
Saya ingin bersama dengan Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, Pensyarah Kanan, Jabatan Pengajian Pentadbiran & Politik, Universiti Malaya
Malaysia, Kazakhstan sepakat perkukuh hubungan, teroka kerjasama baharu
Malaysia dan Kazakhstan sepakat untuk terus memperkukuhkan hubungan yang terjalin sejak 16 Mac 1992, serta meneroka peluang kerjasama baharu.
Pecah amanah: JSJK dedah dua kes baharu oleh firma guaman, pelanggan rugi RM8 juta
JSJK mendedahkan dua kes terbaharu membabitkan jenayah pecah amanah oleh firma guaman melibatkan kerugian wang pelanggan berjumlah RM8 juta.
Kerajaan akan bantu jawatankuasa Kuil Subramaniar Swamy dalam aspek pembangunan - Gobind
Beliau berkata perkara itu telah dibincangkan dan mendapat persetujuan dalam pertemuan bersama Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, semalam.
Thaipusam disambut meriah, harmoni di seluruh negara
Difahamkan lebih dua juta pengunjung terdiri daripada rakyat Malaysia mahupun pelancong luar negara, bersama-sama memeriahkan sambutan pada hari ini.
“Thaipusam tahun ini lebih ramai berbanding tahun lepas”
Kesesakan luar biasa berlaku di Batu Caves, tempat perhimpunan yang sering menjadi tumpuan penganut agama Hindu.
Rapid Bus sedia bas perantara percuma sempena Thaipusam
Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd akan menyediakan perkhidmatan bas perantara percuma bagi kemudahan orang ramai ke dua kuil tumpuan sempena sambutan Thaipusam Khamis ini.
Batu Caves akan dilengkapi dengan kemudahan eskalator
Ia sebagai alternatif kepada 272 anak tangga yang perlu diambil oleh pelawat dan penganut Hindu untuk sampai ke gua kuil Sri Subramaniar.
Ingin rancang perjalanan sempena Thaipusam? Ikuti antara inisiatif MOT
Menteri Pengangkutan Malaysia, Anthony Loke Siew Fook mengumumkan lima penambahbaikan pergerakan bersempena Thaipusam 2024 yang akan disambut pada 25 Januari di seluruh Malaysia.
MOT umum lima penambahbaikan sempena Thaipusam 2024
Menteri Pengangkutan Malaysia, Anthony Loke Siew Fook umum lima penambahbaikan pergerakan sempena Thaipusam 2024 yang akan disambut pada 25 Januari di seluruh Malaysia.
Beri RM20 selepas cabul remaja lelaki
Suspek direman selama enam hari sehingga Jumaat ini untuk membantu siasatan.
Pekerja melecur, tiga kilang di Batu Caves terbakar
Seorang lelaki melecur dalam kebakaran tiga kilang di kawasan perusahaan Batu Caves di Gombak pada Rabu.
Pemandu lari tinggalkan lori, jalan sesak 2 jam
Lori terbabit dipandu dalam keadaan mencurigakan sebelum ditahan anggota JPJ yang melakukan rondaan di sekitar lokasi kejadian.