New guidelines not enforced yet, to be reviewed first

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor government will review the proposed new guidelines on non-Muslim houses of worship in commercial areas in consultation with religious associations before they are implemented, says executive councillor Ng Sze Han.

He said the guidelines have not yet been implemented or enforced by any local authority, and a meeting to review them will be arranged in early June.

“The Selangor 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,” Ng, the co-chairman of the special committee for non-Islamic affairs (Limas), said in a statement this evening.

“The review of these guidelines will be carried out by the state government in consultation with religious associations. No enforcement action will take place while this review is ongoing.

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

Yesterday, the Selangor government defended the planning guidelines, saying they were based on feedback from local councils and residents living near commercial areas.

A spokesman from the menteri besar’s office said the new rules are to improve traffic flow and parking facilities, as commercial areas have limited space and may not be able to cater to the needs of religious communities.

The spokesman also said the rules, which will see land gazetted for both Muslim and non-Muslim houses of worship in residential areas, apply only to new developments and will not affect currently operating houses of worship.

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung raised concerns earlier over the recently published Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities, approved at a state exco meeting on Nov 12 last year.

The guidelines are administered by PLANMalaysia Selangor, the state’s town and country planning department.

Paragraphs 6 and 7 of the section governing non-Islamic places of worship state that such facilities may not be placed in commercial zones, and that existing buildings cannot be converted.

In a Facebook post, Lee said the restrictions could affect many religious groups in Selangor as many currently use commercial or industrial buildings because of a lack of approved land.

المصدر: Free Malaysia Today