Penang to sell 20 acres of land to build churches, temples

Twenty acres of land in mainland Penang have been set aside to build non-Muslim religious places of worship, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Non-Muslim organisations are offered to buy the plots of land from the state government, he added.

Lim said the leasehold land in Bagan, Butterworth, have been demarcated into 32 lots of different sizes for the purpose.

The smallest plot are sized 6,000 sq ft, while the largest, at one acre.

“This move follows several complaints we have received from non-Muslim organisations regarding lack of land to built places of worship like churches and temples,” Lim said at a press conference today.

“If there is no land, how can you practise religion? So, we make land available for you to buy to build churches and temples.

“This will be useful in cases of eviction, where developers can find alternative land to relocate places of worship,” he added.

Lim said the land will not cost as much as commercial lots since its purpose was to build places of worship.

Those interested are advised to write officially to him or state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng, who is the state assemblyperson for the area where the plots are located.

Lim noted that in other states, there are problems, not only of land availability but non-Muslims organisations are not allowed to purchase to build their places of worship.

According to Hock Seng, the area will also see public housing including some low-medium cost units build by Penang Development Corporation.

"It is right in the centre of the Bagan town, and the land faces the Perai river, very beautiful scenery," he said.- Mkini