'Yet to be enforced' claims a hollow excuse, Ng Sze Han must explain restrictive guidelines

Datuk Lawrence Low

NON-MUSLIM representatives within the Selangor state government, particularly DAP executive councillors Ng Sze Han and Ng Suee Lim, must explain why they agreed to and approved guidelines that are clearly detrimental to the development of non-Islamic religions in Selangor.

The Selangor state government recently introduced the 2025 Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities. Paragraph 6 under “KM: 4-3 Places of Worship Other than Islam” states that non-Islamic religious sites are not permitted within commercial zones, while Paragraph 7 further prohibits the conversion of existing buildings into such places of worship.

Ng Sze Han’s claim that these guidelines have yet to be implemented does not address the core issue. The real question is if these guidelines are so restrictive towards non-Islamic religious sites, why were they approved in the first place?

Although Ng has since issued a statement to ease public concern, this response appears reactive rather than responsible. Policies involving the religious rights of non-Muslim communities should never have reached this stage without prior engagement and consensus-building.

The state government should have conducted thorough consultations with all religious groups during the drafting stage, before the guidelines were finalised and released.

Instead, consultations were only proposed after public objections and widespread concern emerged.

This “approve first, consult later” approach disregards the sensitivities, rights and legitimate concerns of non-Muslim communities, and contradicts the spirit of inclusiveness and mutual respect that underpins Malaysia’s multi-religious society.

Non-Islamic religious organisations in Selangor have long faced difficulties in securing suitable land for places of worship. Many sites located in commercial or industrial areas exist out of necessity and have coexisted peacefully with surrounding communities for decades.

Rather than resolving the longstanding shortage of land for non-Islamic religious purposes, the state government is now imposing further restrictions that will only worsen the situation.

Selangor MCA therefore urges Ng Suee Lim, whose portfolio covers local government, new village development and tourism, to take immediate and concrete action, including amending the relevant provisions within these guidelines.

Corrective action is necessary not only to restore public confidence, but also to prevent lower-level enforcement authorities from misapplying or abusing these provisions.

Selangor MCA is also concerned about the scope and implications of these guidelines. The state government must clarify whether the restrictions apply only to future applications for new religious sites or whether existing places of worship will also be affected.

Regardless of whether these measures affect future developments or existing institutions, the outcome remains the same — further restrictions on the normal growth and development of non-Islamic religions in Selangor.

Selangor MCA therefore calls on the state government to immediately review and amend the guidelines, and to suspend any policy that may curtail the freedom and development of non-Islamic religions until comprehensive consultations and consensus have been reached with all affected religious groups, in order to preserve Selangor’s values of diversity, moderation and inclusiveness.

DATUK LAWRENCE LOW

Selangor MCA State Liaison Committee Chairman

MCA Vice-President