No restrictions yet on non-Islamic houses of worship in Selangor commercial areas

KUALA LUMPUR: The Selangor government has not enforced or implemented newly drawn-up planning guidelines that bar non-Islamic houses of worship from being built in commercial areas.

State Special Committee for Non-Islamic Affairs (Limas) co-chairman Ng Sze Han said the state government will carry out a review of the guidelines in consultation with religious associations, with a meeting on the issue to take place early next month.

Ng was referring to the recently published Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities, which are administered by the state town and country planning department, PLANMalaysia Selangor.

“The state government wishes to address recent concerns regarding PLANMalaysia Selangor’s guidelines on non-Muslim places of worship, specifically concerning the approval of future applications for non-Muslim places of worship in commercial shoplots.

“As such, we wish to clarify that the guidelines have not yet been implemented or enforced by any local authority,” Ng, who is also Selangor investment, trade and mobility chairman, said in a statement.

He also stressed that no enforcement action will take place while the review of the guidelines is ongoing.

“The state government is dedicated to resolving this administrative and technical alignment through constructive dialogue, ensuring that Selangor remains a progressive, fair, and inclusive state for all.”

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المصدر: New Straits Times