The announcement by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) that the shophouse church in Taman Medan at the centre of this week’s religious/racial controversy is illegal is without merit, according to the Selangor state government’s non-Islamic affairs watchdog.
Elizabeth Wong, co-chair of the Selangor Committee on Non-Islam Affairs (HESI) said churches operating out of shophouse lots in the state don’t even need permits to open their doors – they only need to notify her committee before doing so.
“MBPJ Councillors also clarified that since 2008, the previous State Committee on Non-Islam Affairs (then known as State Committee on Non-Islam Places of Worship) has allowed churches to operate in commercial premises or offices without the need for application of permits, but only by way of notification to the committee.
“This is based on the principle that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution embodies freedom of worship,” she said, as quoted by The Malaysian Insider.
On Sunday, the church in Taman Medan’s Metro Square was beset by angry Malay-Muslim protesters from the area who demanded it take down a cross displayed on its facade, citing insensitivity to its “95% Malay” community.
After a dialogue between protesters and church officials mediated by Abdullah Abu Bakar, a local UMNO politician and brother to the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar, the cross was taken down.
However, the MBPJ waded into the issue and declared the church illegal outright. IGP Khalid also commented that there was nothing seditious about the protest, as it “was not about religion”, while his boss, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, disagreed, saying the case was definitely one involving sedition.
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