PM announces new rules for building places of worship
The construction of places of worship will soon require prior approval from local authorities, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced today.
Mahathir was responding to a question on how Putrajaya would prevent the clashes seen in the rioting over the relocation of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple from reoccurring...
The construction of places of worship will soon require prior approval from local authorities, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced today.
Mahathir was responding to a question on how Putrajaya would prevent scenes like the riots over the relocation of the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya from reoccurring.
He stressed that places of worship cannot be built without regard to landowners.
"The problem is that temples are being built anywhere, even in other people's land. That is a problem that this we are seeing today.
"Many temples are built on land that does not belong to the temple owner.
"So now the government will pass a resolution and make it a condition that houses of worship, like mosques or temples or churches, cannot be built without the permission of the local authority," he told reporters during a press conference at Bersatu headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
"They cannot build on land that doesn't belong to them. That will solve the problem.
"The problem now is temples are being built without any regard as to who owns the land. And later on, when we claim the owner wants the land back, there is a problem."
Mahathir noted, however, that this would only be a solution for places of worship built in the future.
"I am talking about the future. Now, I think we cannot do anything," he said when asked if the new rule would also affect existing places of worship.
'Insensitive foreigners'
On the fracas outside the Seafield temple on Monday morning, Mahathir said it occurred because the landowner had allegedly hired Malays to guard the Hindu place of worship.
He said this was a mistake on the owner's behalf, saying that they are "foreigners" who did not understand Malaysian culture.
It is believed that Mahathir was referring to the Philippines-based Ayala Corporation – the majority owner MCT Bhd, which in turn owns One City Development Sdn Bhd, the legal owner of the land on which the temple is located.
"The company gave compensation (to the temple management), expecting to move very soon.
"They thought they should guard the temple from anybody who wanted to disturb it or destroy it. They made a mistake by employing Malays.
"We cannot have Hindus guarding mosques... (But) these are foreigners, they don't understand our culture," he said.
When asked about the status of the Seafield temple's relocation, Mahathir stressed that the country's laws must be adhered to.
He said the 2014 consent judgment must be followed, and those who believe that it is wrong can file an application to higher courts.
The government, he added, cannot interfere in the matter.
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