STATE investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the Selangor government has allocated a total of RM8mil this year alone to support the development, maintenance and welfare of non-Muslim houses of worship across Selangor.
Speaking at the state-level Wesak Day celebrations held at the Sugata Dharma Vihara in Bandar Saujana Putra on Saturday (June 6), Ng said the allocation was made through the Special Committee on Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and Taoist Affairs (Limas).
“Out of the RM8mil, RM3.628mil has been specifically designated for Buddhist and Taoist communities. As of June 4 Limas has received 318 applications. To date, we have already approved 130 applications amounting to RM1.394mil, and the rest are being processed swiftly,” said Ng.
During the Wesak Day celebrations, Ng also presented a mock cheque of RM1.29mil, which will directly benefit 128 Buddhist and Taoist associations across the state.
In his speech, Ng assured devotees that the Selangor government understands that for any religious community, peace of mind to practice one’s faith must also come with the assurance that they have the legal security to do so.
“The Selangor government’s clear and unwavering answer to any doubts is that a total of 481 land plots for non-Islamic places of worship have now been officially gazetted. We are systematically, legally, and permanently securing the spaces where you practise your faith,” he said.
Ng also joined the representatives and members from 57 Buddhist and Taoist organisations during the celebration to officiate the new RM12mil Sugata Dharma Vihara temple which just opened in March.
According to the temple’s building committee chairman David Cheong, who is also the Kajang assemblyman, the building sits on 0.291 hectares of land which was gazetted as a place of worship by the state government in 2019.
“In addition to allocating this piece of land it had also channelled a RM50,000 allocation to help make this sanctuary a reality. It is because of this solid, long-standing foundation laid by the Selangor government that we are all able to safely, peacefully, and grandly gather here today to celebrate Wesak Day,” said Ng.
To mark the special occasion, the temple also made it into the Malaysia Book of Records for displaying a total of 666 Prince Siddharta statues for devotees to perform the Buddha bathing ceremony.
