00:01From the main road, this semi-detached house in Tamanyal,
00:05Kuala Lumpur is largely hidden behind tarpaulin and screens.
00:09But from the neighbouring home, prayer rituals, open flames and smoke remain clearly visible.
00:15Almost nine months after Kuala Lumpur City Hall said it would act,
00:20residents claim the house is still being used as an unauthorised tokong,
00:24despite the matter being raised in December last year.
00:2652-year-old resident Uma Devi Panchacarem says the smoke still drifts into her home,
00:33leaving soot on her clothes.
00:35Amid worsening haze, residents are calling for the burning and large-scale prayer activities to stop.
00:41Now furthermore, with the haze and all that, and compounding with this kind of smoke
00:47and the soot that actually flies to my house daily,
00:50and I have to wash my porch, wash my cars.
00:53So it's not, you know, something which is, nothing is done, because I've got sinus issues.
01:00This smoke and all that affects me.
01:02So most of the time, my icon is on, and, you know, I have to close the windows.
01:08Because the smoke comes in, you know, if the windows are open, the smoke will definitely come in.
01:12And my clothes all have the smoke smell, I have to rinse again my clothes.
01:15So it's really causing havoc.
01:19Residents say a lorry was recently spotted at the house at around 2am,
01:24claiming it delivered prayer paper, religious statues, chairs and large metal vessels.
01:30DBKL's planning department confirmed in a letter dated January 28th, 2025,
01:35that the property is strictly residential, with no approval for renovations, extensions or temple-related structures.
01:43The complaint was referred to its enforcement department, but residents say no action followed.
01:49I think we must be more concerned about pollution in our own backyard.
01:53I mean, before we help others, they always say charity begins at home.
01:57I think we have to be very concerned that we have pollution within KL itself,
02:02within our own house and area, you know, where we live.
02:05And we really need some positive action from the authorities,
02:08because it's been too long since we have complained, and this cannot go on.
02:12Because it's not only the smoke and all, it's also noise pollution.
02:16Sometimes they beat the gong in the night, you know, when the children need to sleep,
02:19and they're not studying, and people are studying.
02:22All this noise pollution is also interrupting their everyday lives.
02:26According to residents, the owner has denied operating a temple,
02:30claiming prayers are held only once a year and involve just incense burning.
02:35Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud says he views the activities as individual religious observance,
02:42but stressed DBKL will take a firm stand against open burning,
02:47and will send a team to inspect the premises.
02:52Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud
03:00Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud
03:01Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud
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