A PROPERTY group is planning to build a temple for the Hindu community in Bandar Putra Kulai, Johor.

IOI Properties Group Bhd Johor chief operating officer Lim Beng Yeang said the development was estimated to cost more than RM400,000.

Construction would start in September and take about four months to complete, he added.

"This is part of our corporate social responsibility to the Indian community in our development area.

"As we progress, we want to ensure our project does not affect any places of worship.

"This is why we have decided to relocate the current temple that is about 13,000sq ft to a new location 1km away on a 21,796sq ft land.

"We hope to give back to the community in ways that are beneficial to them, as properties are not just about creating revenue but also how we can help develop our community," he said, adding that land cost was around RM2.8mil.

He said this after a memorandum of understanding signing between IOI Properties and management of Dewi Sri Nagakani Alayam temple at IOI Galleria Bandar Putra Kulai.

Temple association chairman R. Cheeran said the house of worship was built in the 1950s for those working in the estate areas.

"This is one of the historical places for the community in Kulai, as it is one of the first settlement areas of our forefathers."

He thanked the state government and IOI Properties for their contribution to the community.

Kulai MIC chief S. Suppayah said there were about 3,000 Indian families living in Bandar Putra Kulai alone.

"This is one of the early plantation areas, which is why there is a big Indian community in Kulai."

He said the new land was the second given by IOI Properties to the Indian community as part of their corporate social responsibility after the Dewi Sri Maha Mariamman Alayam temple handover 10 years ago.

He said Dewi Sri Maha Mariamman Alayam and the new proposed temple would be located near each other, making it easy for devotees to access them via Lebuh Bandar Putra.

Suppayah also hoped the state government and IOI Properties would consider granting land to build a Tamil school.

"As our community grows, there is a need for education, and we hope this idea will be considered in any planned development in the future."

Also present at the event were Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) president Mohd Fahmi Salam and councillor Nurul Nadia Ab Azis as well as IOI Properties Johor general manager Kelvin Tang.