Land Application for non-Islamic Houses of Worship Subject to the National Land Code

SHAH ALAM, 22 Nov: The approval for land to construct non-Islamic houses of worship in Selangor is given via gazette as stated in the National Land Code.

Meanwhile, the land selection procedure to build non-Islamic houses of worship in this state is carried out based on the Selangor State Planning Standards Guideline, said the Executive Councillor in charge of Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government, V Ganapathi Rao.

Among the procedures set, he said, is that the house of worship cannot be built in the centre of community groups, shops or homes are not allowed unless it is proven that there is no land or an appropriate area suitable for the purpose, and to not create a nuisance to surrounding occupants.

“Non-Islamic houses of worship are also not allowed to be built in open areas and it cannot be placed around sewage plants or Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) substations.

“In addition, the non-Islamic Affairs Guidelines also states that the area of the land for non-Islamic houses of worship, whether provided by the government or developers, cannot exceed 10,000 square feet.

“However, the non-Islamic Affairs Committee may consider an area of over 10,000 square feet based on a case-to-case basis,” he said when answering oral questions from Haniza Talha (PKR-Taman Medan) regarding guidelines to choose sites for the construction of non-Islamic houses of worship at the Selangor State Assembly session today.

He said that the state government, through local authorities, will also make periodic on-site monitoring for non-Islamic houses of worship to ensure that the conditions to the approval are observed.

Among the requirements is to ensure that the building height does not exceed 50 feet, building setbacks, provision of parking facilities and so on.

“If the building does not meet the plan, local authorities will issue a notice under Section 70(13)(d) of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974 (Act 133) within 14 days.

“It will be issued if an amendment plan or the demolishing of parts do not meet the requirements and failing to comply with the notice, local authorities will issue a compound under Section 70(13)(d) of the same act, amounting to RM25,000,” he said.