KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 — Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) today urged the Selangor government to withdraw newly approved guidelines governing non-Muslim houses of worship and restart consultations with religious groups and other stakeholders.
The party, led by former ministers Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, also expressed solidarity with Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung, who recently raised concerns over the guidelines.
“Several of the approved rules have raised concerns among Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and followers of other faiths,” Bersama said in a press statement.
The party said the guidelines, approved by the Selangor executive council last November, included restrictions on establishing non-Muslim houses of worship in commercial areas, limits on building heights, conditions restricting access to main roads, and a requirement of one house of worship for every 5,000 residents.
While the state government has said the guidelines have yet to be enforced, Bersama argued that they are already being used as a reference by local authorities responsible for approving and regulating applications.
“We believe such regulations should not be formulated solely through administrative processes based on recommendations from government departments that view the matter only from administrative and management perspectives,” it said.
Bersama said regulations involving houses of worship were highly sensitive and should be developed through broader public engagement rather than administrative decision-making alone.
The party also said local councillors should play a greater role in reflecting the needs of residents and allowing local considerations to shape decisions on places of worship.
“The Selangor government should return the matter to the Exco and first revoke the latest guidelines approved in November 2025, so that consultation and engagement with all relevant stakeholders can begin anew,” it said.
Bersama called for fresh consultations involving religious representatives, community leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders before any revised guidelines are tabled again for approval.
Date: 12 June, 2026 11:00 am
Source: Malay Mail
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