SHAH ALAM, Jan 27 — The state government has stressed that no replacement site has been provided in relation to the encroachment involving three non-Islamic places of worship on the PJS 4 Islamic cemetery land in Petaling Jaya.
State executive councillor for Islamic Affairs and innovation Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah said that claims circulating on social media that a ‘replacement site’ existed to substitute for the encroachment are untrue.
He said that the site referred to in a statement by Facebook user Tamim Dahri on Friday (January 23) was, in fact, long-zoned as a non-Islamic house of worship (RIBI) and had never been proposed as a surau site.
“Checks with the Petaling Land Office and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) confirmed that the site mentioned has been zoned for RIBI and was never proposed as a surau.
“It should also be clarified that this so-called ‘replacement site’ is not a replacement for the temple involved in the encroachment, nor was it ever a surau site that was later converted into an RIBI site,” he said in a statement today.
Fahmi added that if any temple wishes to legally occupy the RIBI site, an application must still be submitted to MBPJ and the Petaling Land Office, subject to approval by the relevant agencies.
The councillor also urged all parties involved, both Muslims and non-Muslims, to remain calm and refrain from issuing statements that could inflame racial sentiments.
“The reckless allegation made by him (Tamim) in his Facebook post dated January 23, 2026, claiming that the ‘replacement site’ for the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple provided by developer Asian Pac Holdings Bhd had previously been proposed as a surau site.
“The perception seemingly being created is that a surau site had been taken by a developer to be turned into an Indian temple. From the comments on that post, it is clear that many netizens expressed grievances and concerns arising from this untrue perception.
“This clarification should be fully understood by Tamim and netizens alike, so that inaccurate perceptions that could offend racial sensitivities are not irresponsibly exploited,” he said.
Fahmi noted that the state government has specific plans, actions, and a clear timeline to demolish the unauthorised structures on the Islamic cemetery land, enabling long-delayed burial site works by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) to commence as early as June 2026.
“Let the relevant agencies carry out their duties carefully and in an orderly manner in accordance with the laws in force. The State Government remains committed to safeguarding lands under the management and responsibility of Selangor’s Islamic religious institutions from all forms of encroachment and misuse,” he said.
Previously, JAIS director Dato' Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad said that parties encroaching on the PJS 4 Islamic cemetery land in Petaling Jaya were given until March 31 to vacate the site, emphasising that enforcement action would be taken if the directive were not complied with.
The cemetery land is gazetted under JAIS pursuant to Section 62 of the National Land Code 1965, and is not wakaf land under the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), contrary to claims circulating on social media.
In November last year, Fahmi said the encroachment involved the construction of structures for three non-Islamic places of worship.
