Should unauthorized temples be destroyed ?

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sparked a heated national debate by announcing that his government would take firm action against unauthorized places of worship, primarily targeting buildings constructed on illegal land, in order to restore equal application of the law for all citizens.

Emphasizing that faith cannot be exempt from respecting planning regulations, Anwar strongly cautioned against vigilantism and the blind defense of structures erected without permits, reminding everyone that the stability of a multicultural nation depends on each community’s compliance with the law.

This firm stance, however, is meeting with strong resistance from opposition figures and civil society organizations, who warn that the outright destruction of temples—often steeped in history for Hindu and Buddhist minorities—risks dangerously exacerbating racial and religious tensions in a country with a fragile religious balance.

These voices advocate for a pragmatic approach focused on the legal regularization of existing sites, institutional reform of land allocation, and the adoption of collaborative relocation models, similar to the policy implemented in Penang where dialogue takes precedence over demolition.

While the government seeks to impose strict administrative discipline, it finds itself grappling with the complexities of managing informal cultural heritage, where every physical intervention on a place of worship becomes a test of tolerance for Malaysian democracy.

The challenge for the Anwar administration will therefore be to realize this « equality before the law » without turning urban planning issues into major identity crises, while offering viable alternatives to the faithful whose temples are currently illegal.