The Selangor government has advised the Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya church to return the cross to its place.

The Community of Praise Petaling Jaya church removed the cross from outside its building after a protest by local Muslims last Sunday.

Since 2008, places of worship can operate in commercial units without permits, as long as the state committee on non-Islam affairs is notified, executive council (exco) member Elizabeth Wong said.

"We have advised the church to return the cross to its origin site to stop this precedent of mob rule by politically-aligned extremists," she said in a statement.

Wong (left) is co-chair of the state committee on non-Islam affairs (Hesi committee).

"We call upon the Royal Malaysian Police to take this matter very seriously in order to ensure the safety of worshippers are protected at all times and there will be no repeats of such cases in Selangor."

Earlier today, MPBJ public relations officer Zainun Zakaria told Malaysiakini a permit must be obtained to convert a commercial unit to a place of worship, and no application was made by the Taman Medan church.

However, Wong said: "A notification to Hesi committee suffices. And if any local councils have any issues or questions, they are to refer back to the Hesi committee."

When contacted, resident pastor Victoria Paul declined to comment.

The state advised the church not to be cowed, in a meeting this morning between the Hesi committee and church representatives this morning.

Others present include MBPJ councillors FK Tang and Peter Chong, Petaling Jaya Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian and assemblypersons Hannah Yeoh and R Rajiv.

Church established August 2014

In the meeting, the church clarified that it has been serving Christians in the community since August 2014, and put up the cross outside its premises on April 17, she said.

It was earlier reported that the church was only two-days-old when protestors showed up at its door step on April 19 to demand it remove the cross, or have it removed by force.

Among those at the protest were former Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno Wanita chief Munaliza Hamzah and Taman Lindungan Jaya Umno branch chief Abdullah Abu Bakar, who is also the brother Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

Munaliza (holding placard in picture, right) yesterday told Malaysiakini the demonstration was not Umno sanctioned and was to voice local displeasure.

Abdullah said residents were fearful that the church would proselytize to local Muslim youths. The church is surrounded by low cost flats which are mostly Muslim.

Wong said while non-Muslim places of worship can operate in commercial units without permit, stand-alone places of worship must adhere to existing guidelines.

The guidelines includes matters of land applications, land conversions, buildings, demolitions and applications of funds, she said.

 

MBPJ: Church has no permit as place of worship