KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 9 -- The management of the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple has issued a letter of demand against Selangor state executive councillor V Papparaidu, accusing him of making public remarks that the temple says suggested the centuries-old Hindu landmark at Batu Caves is privately owned, sparking a legal and political dispute over a proposed escalator project.

According to a report by Astro Awani, the letter demands an unconditional apology and a written undertaking from Papparaidu not to repeat the statements, which were made in a recent TikTok post and later reported by the media.

Papparaidu is the Selangor executive councillor for human resources, poverty eradication, Orang Asli and minority affairs.

Temple representatives...