Non-Muslim Religious Council Raises Concerns Over Selangor Worship Guidelines
KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has voiced objections to several provisions contained in Selangor’s 2025 planning guidelines for non-Muslim houses of worship, arguing that some of the requirements are overly restrictive and may disadvantage smaller religious communities.
In a position paper, the council questioned the requirement that a non-Muslim house of worship can only be considered in areas with a population of at least 5,000 residents or 1,250 housing units, together with a minimum land allocation of 1.5 acres.
According to MCCBCHST, the threshold does not adequately reflect the needs of minority religious groups whose populations may be relatively small but who still require dedicated places of worship to carry out their religious obligations.
The council cited the Sikh community as an example, noting that a residential area may only have around 20 Sikh families, or roughly 100 individuals, yet still require access to a gurdwara for daily prayers and religious activities.
It argued that the need for a place of worship should not be determined solely by population size, as religious practices vary among different faith communities.
As an alternative, MCCBCHST proposed reducing the population threshold to 1,500 residents or 375 housing units while retaining the minimum land requirement of 1.5 acres.
The council also expressed concern over restrictions preventing non-Muslim houses of worship from being established in commercial zones, as well as limitations on converting existing buildings or residential properties for religious purposes.
According to MCCBCHST, such applications should be evaluated individually based on local circumstances and community requirements rather than being subject to blanket prohibitions.
The council noted that many non-Muslim places of worship have operated peacefully in commercial areas for years without causing significant issues, adding that commercial and industrial lots remain important options because dedicated religious land remains insufficient in certain locations.
Another concern raised involved a provision limiting the height of non-Muslim houses of worship to 72 feet or below the height of nearby mosques.
MCCBCHST argued that the requirement may not be practical for some religious structures that traditionally incorporate taller architectural elements such as towers, arches or statues.
The council further contended that linking the height of non-Muslim religious buildings to nearby mosques could raise questions regarding constitutional principles relating to equality and freedom of religion.
In addition, MCCBCHST claimed it was not consulted during the drafting stage of the Selangor 2025 Planning Guidelines and Standards for Community Facilities.
The council said the guidelines were developed based on the 2022 planning framework for non-Muslim houses of worship and subsequently approved by the Selangor state executive council in late 2025.
According to MCCBCHST, it was only invited to attend a meeting with state authorities on May 29 this year after the matter attracted public attention through media reports, and was then given two weeks to submit its views.
The council expressed hope that the state government would review the disputed provisions and adopt a more flexible and inclusive approach that better reflects the practical needs of Selangor’s diverse religious communities.
