IPOH: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is ready to assist in efforts to regularise places of worship, says Nga Kor Ming.
Its Minister stressed that the law applies equally to all religious structures.
On whether regularisation efforts have begun, Nga said the process is ongoing, but land matters fall under state jurisdiction.
“State governments handle land issues, not the ministry, but we are ready to assist.
“Under the ministry, we have the non-Islamic places of worship (Ribi) division, while Islamic matters involve Islamic Development Department (Jakim).
“Together, we help to resolve these issues,” he told reporters after presenting aid to 800 students from 18 secondary schools under the Ipoh Barat Parliamentary at SRJK (C) Bercham on Sunday (Feb 8).
Berjaya Cares Foundation had sponsored RM250,000 under the “Sumbangan Kasih Madani” programme in-conjunction with Chinese New Year.
Present were Berjaya Group Berhad’s executive director Shashitharan Nair, and Bercham assemblyman Ong Boon Piow.
Nga said legal provisions are clear that planning permission must be obtained before any house of worship, including mosques, churches, or temples could be built and occupied.
“However, we must understand that this issue did not arise today.
“Some places of worship have existed for hundreds of years, even before the National Land Code and the Local Government Act came to place,” he said.
Thus Nga said the government is looking at a regularisation approach, especially for historically established structures.
“The important thing is that they do not disturb public order, affect river reserves or disrupt road traffic.
“We will carry out regularisation programmes, but any new construction must comply with the law,” he said, adding that the rule of law is a core principle of the Rukun Negara,” he said.
Nga stressed that enforcement and governance must be carried out fairly and compassionately, with no exceptions for any religion.
“I believe this issue can be resolved amicably if we approach it with empathy.
“There are Hindu temples of historical significance without land titles, and there are also mosques that existed long before modern land laws.
“At that time, there was no National Land Code or Local Government Act, so what law did they follow?
