I refer to the letter MPSJ draft plan unfair against churches, temples .

I write to you in light of no answers being given by Lee Hwa Beng in relation to his recent clarification on the planned imposition of annual permit fees by Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ) for churches operating from shoplots and factory outlets.

My intention is not to smear his name only that on behalf of potential voters of Kelana Jaya, I would like to know his stand and answers in relation to this annual permit fee issue. On Feb 18, The Sun published statements by Lee stating and I quote:

‘We have not asked them to close down, but to submit their application for permits,’ said Lee, adding that such churches have to get a permit to operate from business premises.’

‘Asked if this was the same requirement imposed on mosques, suraus and temples, Lee said: ‘If they are on their own land then there is no need for them to apply for the permits for their religious houses, but in the cases of the churches, they need to apply for the permits because they are operating from out of the shoplots in business centres and factory lots in industrial areas.’

Lee allegedly made these statements to counter a statement made by the incumbent Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in relation to the intention of MPSJ via its draft local plan, to impose annual permit fees on churches operating out of shoplots and factory outlets. He later, in his website stated he was misquoted by The Sun without clarifying how he is misquoted.

Later, as many Christians in his community questioned him on this, he issued a statement to the The Sun stating his stand and I quote in italics:

‘ Dear Editor

I refer to the recent article that appeared in your paper (The Sun) quoting me that all churches need to apply for permits from MPSJ. I wish to clarify that MPSJ has never asked any church to apply for permits. MPSJ has also not taken action against any church for having their premises in shophouses or factories.

Hence there is no necessity for any churches to apply for any permits. I hope this clarification will put to rest all the concerns on this issue.

Thank you.

Lee Hwa Beng

MPSJ Councill or’

Sensing a backtrack from his earlier statement and still not acknowledging that as an MPSJ councillor, he was indeed fully aware of the annual permit fee plans, I decided to write to him via his website seeking answers to the following questions in his capacity as MPSJ councillor and on behalf of the Selangor government and MPSJ:

a) Explain why MPSJ has proposed in their local draft plan to enforce the requirement for churches to apply for annual permits to operate from shoplots and factory permises?

b) Assurance that such a proposal, ie, requiring applications for annual permits to operate churches from shophouses and factory permises, will now not be considered by MPSJ.

c) Assuming he is elected as a member of Parliament for Kelana Jaya and should such a proposal be raised by any local, state or the federal government, would he, in his capacity as an elected representative, move a motion in Parliament to oppose and vote against such a measures?

I have not obtained any answers or reply from him.