Non-Muslims’ places of worship may be regulated

The Federal Territories Minister says this move is to preserve their places of worship.

PETALING JAYA: The government is looking at laws to regulate non-Muslims’ places of worship in the Federal Territories.

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor held a meeting with several MPs from both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat at the Parliament yesterday to discuss the proposal further.

Speaking to FMT, MCA MP Khoo Soo Sean said that the proposal brought forward by Tengku Adnan was to help non-Muslims to preserve their places of worship.

“Tengku Adnan is quite forward thinking. It is not only to sort out problems involving places of worship squatting on government land but also those established in shop houses,” he said.

Khoo said that according to local government by-laws, people are not allowed to convert shop lots into places of worship and thus the minister was trying to find an amicable solution to the issue.

“Among the ideas proposed in the meeting is to legalise places of worship established in shop lots if there are no objections from the residents at the area,” said the MCA leader.

He added that the meeting was also attended by representatives from various religions.

However, Khoo clarified that the proposal was still at a preliminary stage and nothing has been decided.

“We are still in the midst of getting feedback from people on this. I respect Tengku Adnan’s intention but it is not going to be easy,” he said.

PKR MP G Manivannan, who was present at the meeting yesterday, welcomed Tengku Adnan’s proposal but cautioned that no political agenda must be involved..

“The federal government must be sincere, meaning it must be done to reflect the concerns of non-Muslims,” he said.

Apart from BN MPs, the meeting was also attended by a total of nine MPs from the opposition bloc.