The federal government will not tolerate the construction or operation of places of worship that violate existing laws, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said stressing that enforcement responsibility rests squarely with local authorities.
Speaking at the Ministry of National Unity’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya, Anwar said municipal and district councils have been fully empowered to act against unlawful developments. This includes clearing, regulating, and managing sites where activities are carried out without proper approval or legal standing.
Addressing concerns that enforcement actions could be interpreted as religious discrimination, Anwar rejected such claims. He emphasised that religious propagation and practice should be guided by wisdom, integrity, and good example, rather than provocation or disregard for the rule of law. Respect for the law, he said, is a shared responsibility across all communities.
The prime minister also expressed concern over what he described as distorted and extreme narratives being circulated around the issue. He pointed to statements by certain individuals, including a former cabinet minister, who have alleged that specific religious groups are unable to practise their faith freely in Malaysia. Anwar said such claims were irresponsible and misleading, and warned that they risk inflaming racial and religious tensions.
He further criticised attempts by some political figures to reposition themselves as defenders of national sovereignty by exploiting sensitive issues. According to Anwar, these individuals have sought to gain political mileage by linking unrelated matters, such as international trade agreements with the United States, to religious and racial anxieties. He described this approach as deeply regrettable, particularly when such rhetoric receives backing from several Members of Parliament.
Reaffirming the administration’s stance, Anwar said the government’s policy on the matter has remained consistent. Enforcement actions are rooted in legal compliance, not religious interference. He stressed that the government has no intention of obstructing or limiting the religious practices of any community, provided those practices are carried out within the framework of the law.
Anwar concluded by reiterating that upholding the rule of law is essential to maintaining harmony in Malaysia’s multiracial and multireligious society, and that selective enforcement or political manipulation of sensitive issues would only undermine national unity.
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