MIC Youth, Makkal Sakti and representatives from the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya, today sent a memorandum to the Home Minister calling for stern action to be taken against those responsible for the rioting at the temple.

The memorandum was delivered by MIC Youth chief R Thinalan to the Home Ministry's principal assistant secretary Wan Muhammad Rumaizi Wan Hussin at the entrance of the ministry here today.

Thinalan, speaking to reporters, said the temple issue should be addressed urgently, as it had gained the attention of the international media and could give a negative image to the country.

Police have detained 21 people in connection to the riot at the temple, which occurred early Monday morning, followed by another episode early today.

The riot took place at the temple compound at about 2am Monday after an altercation between two factions, leading to some of them turning wild, burning 23 vehicles outside the shrine.

Another commotion broke out earlier today when rioters burned two vehicles on the highway passing by the temple and re-ignited a burnt vehicle near the shrine, besides damaging a fire engine.

A personnel of the Fire and Rescue Department's Emergency Services Assistance Unit, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, 24, was seriously injured during the incident.

- Bernama