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PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has affirmed that no temples or shrines have ever been forcibly demolished in the state over the past decades, stressing that the government has consistently sought peaceful solutions for non-Islamic places of worship (RIBI) affected by development projects.
“We have solutions that involved looking for suitable alternative sites and relocating RIBIs so the situation in Penang is under control,” Chow said at a press conference following the launch of an AI for Manufacturing Programme and AI Sandbox at the Penang Skills Development Centre today.
He explained that when RIBIs are situated on land slated for development, developers are required to identify alternative locations for relocation, or at the very least provide compensation to facilitate the move.
Chow acknowledged that some RIBIs have operated without permits for many years.
“We tolerate existing structures but we are strict to ensure no new structures are illegally built,” he said, adding that enforcement measures will prevent further unauthorised construction.
“Those that are still occupying premises that are unlicensed, it will take a period of time for us to complete our whitelisting and relocation process,” he added, noting that some RIBIs may not need to be moved if the land is not required for development, while in other cases the state provides land to enable relocation.
Highlighting long-term initiatives, Chow cited the conversion of unused Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) treatment plant land in Seberang Perai into plots for RIBIs, facilitating relocation of nearby shrines.
He also mentioned a project in Ampang Jajar where more than 30 plots have been prepared to accommodate RIBIs from the Bagan area.
“More than 20 organisations have been offered plots and some have started construction. This is how we are handling the RIBI issue that were built before this without permits. This is our philosophy, we want to relocate these places peacefully,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised by a non-governmental organisation regarding a Hindu temple in front of Bukit Mertajam Hospital, Chow said the temple is allowed to remain in its current location for now.
“It will take time for us to find an alternative site before any final decision is made, but how fast or how slow we resolve this depends on the merits of the case,” he said.
Chow concluded that while the state has successfully provided plots for 30 RIBIs in Ampang Jajar, it will continue to find solutions for other districts while ensuring that no new RIBIs are constructed without proper permits. - March 10, 2026