KUALA LUMPUR – Developers undertaking new residential developments in Selangor with a minimum population of 5,000 residents will now be required to allocate at least 1.5 acres of land for non-Muslim houses of worship under revised state guidelines welcomed by the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM).
The updated guidelines also require developers to provide supporting infrastructure, including access roads, water and electricity supply, for the designated religious sites.
In a statement today, CCM expressed its appreciation to the Selangor government for adopting a revised framework that incorporates feedback from religious communities following a series of consultations with stakeholders.
The changes were announced during the third meeting between the Selangor State Executive Council (Exco) and leaders from various faith bodies at Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (SSAAS) in Shah Alam yesterday.
According to CCM, Selangor local government and tourism committee chairman Ng Sze Han informed participants that the state government had fulfilled its commitment to review and update PlanMalaysia Selangor’s building guidelines for non-Muslim houses of worship.
Among the other key revisions, the new guidelines apply only to future developments, meaning existing houses of worship will not be affected.
The revised framework also removes any height restrictions on non-Muslim houses of worship, provided the buildings are designed in harmony with surrounding developments.
Commercial, industrial and institutional properties are now officially permitted to be used as non-Muslim places of worship, while access road and setback requirements have been made more flexible, subject to approval from local authorities and the State Committee for Non-Muslim Houses of Worship (LIMAS).
CCM said LIMAS will also serve as a mediator and arbitrator in cases where disputes arise between property owners and local councils.
“The Council of Churches of Malaysia extends its deep appreciation to the Selangor State Exco for listening to the concerns of the non-Muslim communities by adopting these revised guidelines, which are more inclusive and fair,” the organisation said.
The meeting was chaired by Ng and attended by fellow state executive councillors Ng Suee Lim, Rajiv Rishyakaran and Papparaidu Veraman, as well as PlanMalaysia Selangor director Khairulzaman Ibrahim.
CCM noted that the revised guidelines came into immediate effect this month and apply only in Selangor. The council added that further details would be available once the full guidelines are officially published by the state authorities. – June 23, 2026