The controversial Selangor 2025 planning guidelines have drawn criticism from an interfaith group over what it describes as restrictive conditions for non-Muslim houses of worship.
In a statement today, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (MCCBCHST) raised a series of concerns about the paused guidelines, with alternative proposals.
One of its main objections is the requirement that an area must have at least 5,000 non-Muslim residents (or 1,250 residential units) before being eligible for a minimum 0.51ha site for houses of worship.
“What would happen to the (non-Muslim) residents in an area where they do not reach the required 5,000 people? Where would they go to pray?
“This is illogical because these residents should also be given a dedicated location for them to do prayers,” it said.
MCCBCHST noted that such a criterion could disproportionately affect smaller religious communities such as Sikhs, who make up less than one percent of Malaysia’s population.
It also questioned how the allocated site would be distributed among different faiths.
Arguing that the rule is inconsistent with the Federal Constitution’s guarantees of religious freedom, the group proposed lowering the threshold to 1,500 residents or 375 housing units.
The group also objected to provisions that restrict non-Muslim houses of worship in commercial zones and residential premises.
Urging the state to withdraw the clauses, MCCBCHST said places of worship have long operated in commercial areas without issue.
“Religion is an important matter to Malaysians, and it is a fact that the government does not have the capability to provide enough land plots for non-Muslim houses of worship.
“Thus, the current policy that allows worship houses in commercial and industrial zones should be continued.
“Besides, there are many surau and mosques in such zones, and thus we hope the same treatment would be accorded to the non-Muslims.”
The group also called for a case-by-case approach rather than a blanket prohibition on using residential premises as places of worship.
Criticism over size, height limits
On a provision encouraging high-rise residential developments to include a meditation or prayer room for non-Muslims, MCCBCHST said the stipulated minimum size of 46.45sqm is too small.
It said such facilities should account for the need to accommodate different faiths separately.
The group also criticised guidelines setting a maximum height of 72 feet for non-Muslim houses of worship, and requiring them not to exceed the height of nearby mosques.
It said the restriction should be reviewed, especially given architectural needs such as statues, arches, and steeples.
“Regarding the rule that a non-Muslim house of worship cannot be taller than a nearby mosque, this is against Article 3(1), Article 8, and Article 11 of the Federal Constitution,” said MCCBCHST.
The Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities 2025 were approved in a state exco meeting in November 2025.
However, they only came into public focus on May 23 this year after Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung raised concerns over clauses affecting non-Muslim houses of worship in commercial zones.
Lee highlighted Paragraph 6 under “KM: 4-3 Places of Worship Other than Islam”, which states that placement in commercial zones is not permitted.
Paragraph 7 further states that “conversion of existing buildings into such uses is also not allowed”.
Following criticism, the Selangor government clarified that the guidelines would apply only to future developments and would not affect existing commercial areas. - Mkini
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