KUALA LUMPUR: All parties must respect and comply with the laws on the governing land use and the construction of houses of worship, said His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia.
His Majesty warned against the politicisation of religious issues that could threaten national harmony.
“Every issue related to land use and the construction of houses of worship must be handled in accordance with the law,” His Majesty said in a post on his Facebook account on Wednesday (Feb 11).
He said issues involving the construction of temples must be addressed through the same legal rules and channels applied to the building of mosques, churches and other houses of worship.
His Majesty added that any disputes related to the construction of houses of worship should be resolved through lawful channels to preserve harmony, tolerance and goodwill.
Sultan Ibrahim said Malaysia was built on the foundations of harmony and mutual respect, and that the country’s strength lay in tolerance and adherence to the rule of law.
Recalling his experience in January 2018, His Majesty said he had personally acted as a mediator in resolving a temple demolition issue in Johor in a peaceful and lawful manner.
“I resolved the matter amicably and advised all parties involved to always comply with the law to avoid any untoward incidents and to safeguard public order,” he said.
Sultan Ibrahim said Islam emphasises mutual respect among all people and does not prevent followers of other religions from practising their beliefs and performing their religious rites.
“At the same time, followers of other religions should also show respect towards Islam.
"This mutual respect is essential to prevent misunderstandings, tension and provocation, and to strengthen unity in a multireligious and multicultural society,” His Majesty said.
Earlier, Sultan Ibrahim received National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang in an audience at Istana Negara on Tuesday (Feb 11).
His Majesty also reminded all parties to avoid making statements or taking actions that could cause misunderstanding, division or undermine peace and stability in the country.
