SELANGOR might be the wealthiest and most developed state in the country but unfortunately and regrettably, its laws do not reflect its level of achievement.
The passage of the state planning laws in 2025 by its EXCO stipulates that non-Muslim places of worship cannot be built in commercial areas nor can these places seek planning permission to validate their premises.
Principally, the overriding issue is not whether non-Muslim places of worship can or cannot be built in commercial areas but rather the lack of land allocated for these non-Muslim places of worship.
The question is how can the Selangor state government consisting of representatives from the DAP and PKR – components of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) ruling coalition – become party to such reckless urban planning?
Historically, non-Muslim places of worship for Christians, Hindus and Buddhists have sprung up in urban areas due to the inadequacy of land.
The current urban planning law passed last year without any opposition has the potential to designate non-Muslim places of worship as illegal and – by definition – subject to demolition.
The dark side of the law was exposed by a PKR MP. It was only after this exposure that DAP leaders in the state came out with statements saying that the new law would be put on hold pending a review.
‘Insults levelled at non-Muslims’
I understand that the review is supposed to be held in June 2026.
The new law concerning non-Muslim places of worship in commercial areas comes in the wake of other unpleasant decisions taken by the state government.
One is the ban on pig farming in the state. The Sultan of Selangor has been insistent that pig farming cannot and will not be tolerated in the state.
On the matter of pig farming, the DAP national leadership has been rather reticent.
The new urban planning law on non-Muslim places of worship seems to complement the recent directive by none other than Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to local councils across the country to take action against “illegal” Hindu temples.
Those behind the demolition of the Hindu temple in Rawang said that they acted on Anwar’s directive.
If these incidents are not enough, what further insults do non-Muslims need before rejecting the hypocritical government of Anwar?
No previous governments have belittled and humiliated non-Muslims as much as the current Madani government.
DAP’s only saving grace lies in its futile attempts to frantically clutch at the minimal concessions granted for the conditional entry of UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) holders into public universities.
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.
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