He said the idea behind the fundraising initiative was to buy the land from the developer and allow the temple to remain at its current location.
Speaking to The Star Online, Tan said it would be “difficult” to expect the Selangor government to buy over the land.
He said as a follower of the Tzu Chi Buddhist charity group, he was taking the path of Master Cheng Yen, who preaches inter-religious harmony and tolerance.
“The public can buy the land, pay off the developer and let the temple stay,” Tan was quoted as saying.
The daily also said Barry Goh, who formerly headed the developer company which currently owns the Seafield temple land, had also pledged RM500,000 for the proposed fund.
The 1.1-acre temple land was worth between RM14.37 million and RM15.33 million, the daily claimed.
The land for the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman Temple belongs to One City Development Sdn Bhd, which is a subsidiary of MCT Bhd.
The dispute over the land, namely between temple devotee M Nagaraju and the temple management, represented by K Chellappa, has been going on for many years.
Nagaraju was a party in a civil suit which included the Selangor government, One City and the temple management, represented by Chellappa.
According to a consent judgement in March 2014, the parties agreed that One City would provide land for a new temple, as well as a donation of RM1.5 million, in return for vacant possession of the temple land at USJ25.
The temple had been slated for relocation on Nov 22 as part of the consent judgement.
In an about-turn, Nagaraju supported a faction at the temple that insisted that it remain at its present location.
Early on Monday, a violent scuffle erupted after an armed group entered the temple. At least 18 vehicles were torched and several people were injured.
Early on Tuesday, protesters set more vehicles on fire and smashed glass panels of the mall where the developer’s office is sited.
Police have detained 21 people for investigations.
Those interested in donating to the fund can do so by sending their contribution to Maybank account no 508177700420, under the name of “Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd”.
Receipts of transfer may be sent to [email protected], with the donor’s particulars for a receipt. Tan owns Sun Media Corporation.