Non-Muslim religious council objects to Selangor worship-house guidelines, says 5,000-resident rule and commercial-lot restrictions unrealistic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has objected to parts of Selangor’s 2025 planning guidelines for non-Muslim houses of worship, saying several conditions for obtaining prayer spaces were too restrictive.

In a position paper sighted by Malay Mail, the council said among its objections was a requirement for a population catchment of 5,000 residents, or 1,250 housing units, with a minimum 1.5-acre site set aside for all non-Muslim houses of worship.

“For followers of a religion, for example the Sikh community, if there are only about 20 families, or about 100 people, in a housing development area, they will not meet the criteria, but for the Sikh community, a house of worship is very much needed as they are required to pray at least in the morning and evening, usually in a gurdwara,” it said.

The council said the threshold was unsuitable, arguing that communities in developments with fewer than 5,000 residents would still need places of worship.

It proposed that the threshold be lowered to 1,500 residents, or 375 housing units, while retaining the minimum 1.5-acre site requirement.

MCCBCHST also objected to restrictions against placing non-Muslim houses of worship in commercial business zones, converting existing buildings into places of worship, and using residential houses for worship purposes.

It said such applications should be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The council added that many non-Muslim houses of worship had operated peacefully in commercial areas for years, and that suitable commercial and industrial lots should remain available for such use as not enough dedicated land had been set aside for such purposes.

It further raised concern over a height condition stating that non-Muslim houses of worship should not exceed 72 feet or the height of a mosque in the same or nearby area.

MCCBCHST said this should be reviewed, especially where religious buildings require taller structures such as statues, arches or towers.

The council also argued that the condition relating to mosque height could conflict with constitutional protections on equality and freedom of religion.

The council also said the Selangor government did not consult it during the preparation of the Selangor 2025 Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities.

“The Selangor 2025 Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities follows the 2022 Planning Guidelines for Houses of Worship of Other Religions, and this was approved by the Selangor state executive council at its meeting No. 34/2025 dated November 12, 2025,” the council said.

MCCBCHST said it was only called for a meeting at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building in Shah Alam on May 29 this year after the matter was reported in the media, and was then given two weeks to submit its feedback.

The statement was signed by MCCBCHST president Seck Chaio Ying, deputy president Dr T. Jeyakumar, and vice-presidents Dao Zhang Tan Hoe Chieow, Sardar Jagir Singh and Datuk Mohan Shan.