S'gor sultan backs PM on unauthorised temples, cites population figure
Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has expressed support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s firm stance on temples constructed in violation of the law, pointing out that the issue was raised during an audience with the ruler on Feb 8.
A statement from the Selangor Royal Office said the state government had briefed the ruler on the statistics of unauthorised Hindu temples in Selangor up to Jan 31, which amounted to 687 temples.
“This includes 388 temples built on government land and 299 temples on private land. The number of unauthorised temples is high compared to the Hindu Indian population, which makes up approximately 11.3 percent of Selangor’s population.
“This figure does not include the temples in Selangor that were legally established with proper authorisation from the state authorities,” read the statement.
Process applications fairly
The statement added that the federal government’s “firm stance” on this matter aligned with the principles and approach emphasised by the ruler, namely ensuring that all development is carried out according to the law and good governance.
“This principle must also be upheld in the construction and development of places of worship, particularly Hindu temples, to ensure they are carried out in an orderly manner in accordance with the law and in line with sustainable and planned urban development,” it added.
The government and local authorities were also reminded to carefully scrutinise every application for the construction of places of worship so that they are processed transparently, fairly, and systematically, without disregarding legal provisions.
“Continuous monitoring must also be carried out to curb and control the construction of unauthorised places of worship on government and private land,” the statement added.
Objections to the construction of unauthorised temples had fuelled a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night, which saw authorities swiftly crack down on organisers and participants, who were arrested on site.
