MCA has found the proposed amended guidelines from the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) prohibiting non-Islamic houses of worship (RIBI) from submitting applications for government funding within three years after funding has been received as “very unreasonable”.
As such, the party’s vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng has urged the minister-in-charge Nga Kor Ming to furnish reasons as to why “such an illogical and unjust regulation has been conceived”.
“If a RIBI truly requires assistance and has been duly verified through official assessments, then requests for funding should be approved,” insisted Tan who is also Penang MCA state chairman.
“A blanket regulation that denies such applications should not be enforced. Instead, funds should be allocated based on each RIBI’s individual needs.”
Offering a scenario of an accident befalling a temple or church which recently received funding for repairs, he wondered if the houses of worship have “to wait for another three long years before submitting an application to KPKT for funding”.
“The policy fails to consider this aspect; it would be nonsensical if RIBIs are deprived of much needed funds solely on a time-based period,” justified Tan who was a one-term Padang Lalang state assemblyman (2004-2008).
“If the government is truly concerned about the misuse of funds, they could send officials to assess the actual needs of RIBIs before disbursing the funds instead of imposing a one-size-fits-all restriction.
“Such a rule only deprives the houses places of worship that genuinely need help.”
More broadly, Tan also slammed the new policy as reflecting government bias against houses of worship of the minorities.
“Nga needs to rescind this policy as soon as possible by introducing a more reasonable funding mechanism,” he demanded.
“The funding for RIBIs is intended to assist RIBIs that are in need, not to be restricted by overzealous, stringent regulations.”
Added Tan: “If Nga is unable to defend the rights of all Malaysian citizens regardless of creed professed, he needs to re-consider if he still has the qualification to serve as the Housing and Local Government Minister.” – Nov 26, 2024
Main image credit: Jotaro’s Travels
