Amid ongoing controversy regarding rules for non-Muslim houses of worship, a review of the Selangor government’s 2025 planning guidelines revealed a height limit preventing them from being taller than mosques.
According to the Selangor State Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities 2025, which were approved by a state exco meeting in November 2025, the total height of a non-Muslim house of worship must not exceed 72 feet (21.9m).
They are to be measured from the ground floor level to the highest point of the structure.
The guidelines further stipulate that such buildings must not be taller than any mosque located within the same or neighbouring development area.
A note accompanying the provisions states that local authorities may issue notices or take enforcement action against existing buildings that exceed the height restrictions.
No justification for the regulations is provided in the guidelines.
The document also requires non-Muslim houses of worship to consider aesthetic harmony with their surroundings, including skyline uniformity, colour schemes, and visual impact.
Debate on the issue intensified after Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung raised concerns over clauses banning non-Muslim houses of worship in commercial zones.
He noted that Paragraph 6 under “KM: 4-3 Places of Worship Other than Islam” states that “Placement within areas designated as commercial zones is not permitted”.
Paragraph 7 further states that “Conversion of existing buildings into such use is not allowed”.
Following criticism, the Selangor government clarified that the guidelines would apply only to future developments and would not affect existing commercial areas.
The state government’s special committee on Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and Tao Religious Affairs said the guidelines were intended to facilitate planning in new developments by ensuring places of worship are located close to residents.
Access rules and land allocation differences
Meanwhile, the guidelines also impose different access requirements for non-Muslim places of worship.
Unlike mosques and suraus, they are not permitted direct access to main roads.
Instead, a service road with a width of at least 50 feet (15.2m), or a lay-by before the entrance, must be provided.
Such sites are also prohibited from being located on cul-de-sacs, with access roads required to connect to the wider road network.
The guidelines provide for one non-Muslim house of worship for every 5,000 residents, or about 1,250 households.
Mosques and suraus are allocated according to different population thresholds.
A local mosque is intended to serve at least 10,000 residents, while a district mosque caters to populations exceeding 50,000.
Suraus are planned for catchment areas of around 2,000 residents.
In terms of land allocation, non-Muslim religious facilities are planned under a shared-site model, with a total allocation of 1.5 acres (65,000 sq ft) subdivided into plots ranging from 0.25 acres (10,800 sq ft) to 0.5 acres (21,700 sq ft) for different faiths.
Local mosques are allocated up to three acres of land (130,000 sq ft), while district mosques may occupy between three and seven acres (130,000-304,000 sq ft).
Suraus in landed residential areas are generally allocated plots of 0.5 acres.
The disparity may partly reflect Malaysia’s demographics.
According to the 2020 census, Muslims comprised 63.5 percent of the population, followed by Buddhists (18.7 percent), Christians (9.1 percent), Hindus (6.1 percent), atheists (1.8 percent), and followers of other religions (0.9 percent).
After Lee voiced his concerns, the Selangor special committee’s co-chairperson Ng Sze Han said the guidelines will not be enforced while a consultation between the government and religious associations takes place.
Separately, a spokesperson from the Selangor Menteri Besar’s Office reportedly responded to Lee, saying the guidelines were based on feedback that local councils received from residents living near commercial areas. - Mkini
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