PUTRAJAYA: The government has barred the construction and operation of all houses of worship built without official approval, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said local councils now have the prerogative to remove any illegal houses of worship.
“I do not allow houses of worship that do not abide by the rules, and local councils have been given the authority to clear out areas not owned by such temples so that this issue can be resolved properly,” said Anwar.
He said in his address at the assembly at the National Unity Ministry here on Monday morning (Feb 8).
Anwar said he expected his remarks to spark controversy but stressed that Malaysia is a country governed by the rule of law.
“One person wanted to demolish it, and another wanted to defend it. This is a country that upholds the rule of law. If you want to negotiate, negotiate properly,” he added.
Anwar said that even in India and China, the authorities do not allow illegal houses of worship or temples to be built at unapproved locations.
Anwar then recalled a case in which devotees urged the government to reconsider allowing a house of worship to operate because it has a 200-year history of being situated beneath a holy tree.
“Don’t use the excuse that simply because the temple is under a tree, it must therefore be approved,” he said.
“Imagine if there are over 1,000 temples that are illegal. This cannot be justified,” he added.
Without naming anyone, Anwar criticised a former minister for taking advantage of the situation by stoking racial tensions.
“Some claimed that Hindus are not allowed to practise their religion in Malaysia and also alleged that Hindus are being murdered,” he said.
“Some even claimed that Anwar is questioning the rights of other races,” he added.
“These issues were raised by a former minister during the previous government, and we cannot allow this,” he said.
Anwar is believed to have been referring to P. Waytha Moorthy, the former national unity and social wellbeing minister in the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.
On Sunday (Feb 8), two men were detained following a rally against the construction of illegal temples.
