Planning Permission Required For Building Places Of Worship - Nga

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- All parties intending to build places of worship must apply for Planning Permission (KM) from the local authorities, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.

He said his ministry practised an open policy on matters involving the construction of places of worship nationwide, and was ready to meet the committees of the respective places of worship.

“I hope applications for any development of places of worship, including any church, mosque, temple or surau, will apply for KM. We will approve them in accordance with the regulations,” he said at a press conference after the Handing-Over Ceremony of Fire Engines and Ops Siaga Raya 2026 here today.

Also present were Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujin and Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM) director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.

According to Nga, under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), there is a Non-Muslim Places of Worship (RIBI) unit that provides allocations for maintenance works.

“Every year, we allocate RM50 million to assist non-Muslim places of worship nationwide.

“For mosques, they fall under the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), with RM2.6 billion allocated,” he said.

Yesterday, Nga said KPKT, through the local authorities, was ready to cooperate with all relevant parties in implementing a regularisation programme for places of worship built without approval.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said the government would not allow any place of worship to be built illegally without complying with regulations.

According to Anwar, Malaysia is a constitutional country, and any construction of places of worship is subject to the law.

-- BERNAMA