KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 -- Umno Youth chief Datuk Akmal Saleh has criticised former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and other lawyers over their insistence that Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman Temple remain in its disputed site here.

In a statement, Akmal argued that even a mosque built on private land would still have to be relocated, saying that legal property ownership must be respected.

He said Jakel Trading Sdn Bhd, the landowner, has spent 10 years discussing a resolution and had not forced an immediate eviction.

"I want to ask these lawyers to leave their own homes because I want to live there. Can I?" Akmal said, questioning the logic behind their legal arguments.

He pointed out that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had ...