SHAH ALAM, Feb 12 — Selangor has activated District Security Committees (JKDs) statewide to manage encroachment issues involving the illegal construction of houses of worship on private land, announced Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari today.
He added that the decision was made during a Selangor chapter of a National Security Council meeting that he chaired in Shah Alam today.
“JKDs, chaired by district officers, have been activated in all Selangor districts.
“These JKDs, as mediators, will call up all parties including landowners, house of worship owners, Royal Malaysia Police and local authorities to reach reasonable solutions,” he said in a statement tonight.
Amirudin added that this is to ensure each dispute is managed systemically and according to the law, in addition to preventing unilateral actions that could affect public peace.
He also said police are investigating an incident in Rawang yesterday where the issue of illegally built houses of worship sparked unrest.
“The occurrence in Rawang yesterday has made the people uneasy. It must be addressed immediately to prevent any incident that could threaten national harmony over racial and religious factors,” he added.
According to the menteri besar, there are two main issues to address in the problem of illegal houses of worship — those built on state government-owned land and those built on privately held land.
For houses of worship on state government-owned land, existing procedures have been streamlined, including allowing immediate action by local authorities and boosting the Special Committee of Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and Tao Religions in Selangor’s (LIMAS) standard operating procedure.
For such structures on privately held land, however, landowners must appoint lawyers and obtain court orders before evictions or demolition can be done.
“These quarters cannot take action on their own without undergoing the court process. This is based on the National Land Code and land-related legislation,” Amirudin said.
Selangor MKN listed steps for landowners whose plots have been encroached upon:
Lodge a police report to allow for an investigation and so prosecution can start if an offence is found
Send an official notice to trespassers and inform District Offices for their further action through JKDs
Undergo JKD mediation to reach a reasonable solution.
Amirudin however added that if the above approach is fruitless, the JKDs will advise landowners to pursue legal action.
“This approach is employed so the entire process involves the authorities and prevents any incident that could cause riots,” the menteri besar said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said no one may act beyond the law, and that all quarters must respect the legislation to ensure national harmony.
