PKR Youth leader calls for urgent legalisation of houses of worship

Summary

• PKR Youth leader urges the government to speed up the legalisation of houses of worship built without proper permission.

• Nanthakumar Poapalan says legalisation can prevent future unauthorised construction.

• This follows heated debates stemming from the now-resolved relocation of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple in Kuala Lumpur.

A PKR Youth leader overseeing national unity issues has urged the government to expedite the legalisation of all houses of worship constructed without proper permission.

PKR Youth exco Nanthakumar Poapalan said the legalisation effort will prevent future unauthorised construction.

“This legalisation programme must ensure that every house of worship, be it a mosque, church, temple, or others, is registered with the local council.

“This will assist in the identification process if any house of worship continues to operate without obtaining necessary approvals,” he said in a statement.

Temple relocation kerfuffle

Nanthakumar’s call echoes similar suggestions made following a recent controversy surrounding the status of the Dewi Pathrakaliamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur, built on a plot of government land which has been sold to textile company Jakel Group.

The situation, resolved through a government intervention that led to the temple’s relocation to make way for Jakel’s Madani Mosque, sparked heated discussions on the status of land occupied by other temples and houses of worship.

A Facebook group highlighting “illegal temples” and a guide on how to report such structures to the local authorities also gained public attention, with the MCMC summoning one of the group’s administrators for questioning.

Commenting further, Nanthakumar said it is undeniable that Malaysia is built on the diversity of its people.

“However, any religious activities left unregulated or mismanaged are at high risk of sparking tension in a diverse society.

“Implementation of programmes such as this (legalisation) will certainly minimise any serious misunderstanding between followers of different faiths in Malaysia, and subsequently contribute to overall peace and harmony,” he said.

He added that the programme must be carried out comprehensively, supported by all relevant government departments and strictly adhering to rules and regulations.

Recently, the Kajang Municipal Council made headlines after it removed an “elephant-like” stump on a large tree behind the Kajang Hospital, previously wrapped with a yellow cloth used by Hindus to mark an idol for prayer.

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