Prominent businessperson Vincent Tan has mooted the setting up of a fund to enable the public to acquire the land upon which the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple sits.

This, he said, would allow for the temple - at the centre of a land dispute which saw two days of violent clashes recently, to remain where it is.

The Star Online reported that Tan, who is Berjaya Corp Bhd founder and adviser, also pledged RM500,000 to kick off the fund.

“The public can buy the land, pay off the developer and let the temple stay.

It will be difficult to expect the Selangor state government to buy the land.

“We are confident that more Malaysians are prepared to donate to keep the temple,” he was quoted saying by The Star Online, adding that he planned to also crowdfund the initiative.

Tan stated that he would be providing more details and the support mechanisms for the fund soon.

Former MCT Bhd head Barry Goh reportedly joined Tan in pledging RM500,000 for the fund.

The land the temple sits on, located in USJ25 in Subang Jaya, belongs to One City Development, a subsidiary of MCT Berhad.

MCT was earlier this year acquired by the Philippines-based Ayala Corporation.

According to The Star Online report, the land is currently worth between RM14.37 million and RM15.33 million.

The Selangor government had assured that the temple will not be demolished nor any legal action be taken until a resolution is reached between the temple and developer in court next month.

 The 127-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya has been involved in a land dispute with One City Development for years and had been scheduled for relocation in accordance with a 2014 consent judgement.

The clashes, which occurred in the early mornings of Nov 26 and 27, stemmed from an incident after devotees objecting to the move clashed with a group of men allegedly hired by individuals linked to the developers to enter and secure the site to facilitate relocation.