Selangor: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has ordered improvements to existing state government procedures regarding illegal houses of worship on state-owned land. He said immediate action at the local authority level, along with clearer standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Selangor Five Religions Houses of Worship Committee (LIMAS), must be implemented.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, for houses of worship occupying private land, the existing process requires the landowner to appoint a lawyer to obtain a court order to enable any eviction and demolition to take place. Amirudin emphasized that no party should take the law into their own hands without going through the court process, in accordance with the National Land Code and land-related laws.
Amirudin stated that in view of safety considerations, the Selangor State Security Council (MKN) has decided that landowners who find that trespassing has occurred and a house of worship has been built without approval must lodge a police report. This will allow the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to investigate and, if proven, initiate the prosecution process for the offence of trespassing.
He outlined that landowners should send a notice to the trespassers and formally inform the District Office. The District Security Committee (JKD), chaired by the District Officer, has been activated in all districts in Selangor. The JKD will act as a mediator by summoning all parties, including landowners, owners of the houses of worship, PDRM and local authorities, to reach a reasonable solution.
Amirudin added that should this process fail to yield results, the JKD will advise the landowner to proceed with court action, ensuring the entire process involves the authorities and prevents incidents that could trigger unrest. Earlier, he chaired the Selangor MKN meeting, attended by Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar, the Commander of the 11th Brigade Headquarters, council presidents and district officers, to discuss the state's public security situation.
The issue concerning houses of worship has sparked differing opinions from various parties. The police are investigating an incident in Rawang, which has caused unease and concern among the people, and it will go through the appropriate legal process. Amirudin emphasized that these issues must be addressed immediately to prevent any incident that could threaten the state's racial and religious harmony.
Through the meeting, Amirudin highlighted that overall, there are two main issues involving unlawful houses of worship: those occupying state-owned land and those built on private land.