NO action will be taken against non-Muslim houses of worship in Penang without the approval from the state committee overseeing such religious establishments, said local government exco Jagdeep Singh Deo.

If action is to be taken against any establishment, applications must be made to RIBI (“rumah ibadat bukan Islam” or non-Islamic houses of worship) committee, he said.

The committee formed for some years now and chaired by Jagdeep himself is tasked with giving land to house RIBI establishments; provide funds for the building of new RIBIs, renovations and repairs; and deal with complaints against RIBIs whereby they are requested to relocate.

“Technically, they will have to apply to the RIBI committee chaired by me. No action is to be taken against these establishments until it comes to the committee.

“The committee always endeavour to strike a balance between all parties (if there is a complaint) due to the sensitivities.

“If a relocation is required, it will be made based on the agreement of all parties, not by force,” Jagdeep told reporters today in Bayan Baru.

Since he became a state exco in 2013, the committee had been successful in its functions and no untoward incident had occurred involving RIBI establishments in Penang, he said.

Jagdeep was earlier asked to comment on reports yesterday that the Local Government and Housing Ministry was drafting a new law to make it compulsory for houses of worship to obtain approval first before building.

Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said there would also be an exercise to register existing houses of worship and their locations, adding that those occupying land that did not belong to them would be advised to move.

Penang, a state rich in cultural and religious heritage, is known to be home to a variety of Buddhist, Taoist and Hindu shrines and temples of all sizes.

Jagdeep said he was aware of what Zuraida had said, adding that the state would wait to see what mechanism the ministry would introduce to register RIBI establishments.

The issue with RIBI buildings surfaced recently following the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple relocation controversy in Selangor.

The 147-year-old temple sits on land belonging to developer One City Development Sdn Bhd. The firm had secured a consent judgment to relocate the temple to Putra Heights some 2.7km away, but devotees refused to budge.

The dispute then erupted into a racial tension early last week when a group of armed masked men stormed the temple and intimidated devotees. The violence that lasted two days saw more than 20 vehicles torched and a fireman beaten up.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said last Wednesday a lawyer linked to the developer had hired Malay thugs to “secure” the temple ahead of demolition works.

More than 40 people have been arrested over the rioting. – December 3, 2018.