KOTA KEMUNING, Selangor, 10 Feb 2026 — Kota Kemuning assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan has called for a calm, historically informed and well-governed approach to the ongoing controversies surrounding so-called “illegal temples,” warning against emotional reactions, blame, and political exploitation of the issue.
In a statement today, Preakas said he fully supported Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s position that the rule of law must be upheld, stressing that no new structures should be built arbitrarily on public or private land without due process.
“The integrity of land ownership is a pillar of our legal system and must be respected by all, regardless of faith,” he said.
However, Preakas emphasised that enforcement must clearly distinguish between wilful encroachment and historical heritage, noting that many temples currently under scrutiny were built decades ago, some during the colonial era, long before modern planning laws, zoning regulations and land administration systems were in place.
He said that in several cases, these religious structures were established with permissions, consent, or temporary licences under the administrative frameworks of their time.
“Let me emphasise clearly: these temples were not built with the intention of land grabbing or illegal encroachment,” he said.
While acknowledging that occupying land without a current title is impermissible under existing laws, Preakas argued that historical context must be taken into account. He said that over the decades, rapid urban development, rezoning, changes in land ownership, and the loss or alteration of records had eroded the formal status of many temples through administrative changes rather than bad faith by religious communities.
As a result, he said, while some temples may lack registrable legal rights today, they may still possess equitable rights arising from long-standing presence and original consent.
“It would therefore be unjust to apply a blanket rule. Each case must be assessed individually, fairly and with historical sensitivity,” he said, adding that the issue was not a failure of communities but a governance challenge inherited by the state.
Preakas also pointed out that Malaysia is not alone in facing such challenges, citing international precedents. In the United Kingdom, older religious buildings are often recognised through heritage listing and regularisation, with enforcement focused on safety and preservation. India applies cut-off dates and non-retroactivity principles, while Singapore adopts a pragmatic approach by formally recording legacy religious sites and offering land swaps or compensation where relocation is unavoidable.
“These examples reflect a shared principle: governance systems must reconcile with historical reality, not punish it,” he said.
He called on the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) and the Federal Government to introduce a structured and transparent pemutihan (regularisation) framework for legacy religious structures. Among the measures proposed were recognition based on the era of construction, simplified approval and compliance pathways, alignment with safety and planning requirements, and the creation of a national registry to prevent future disputes.
At the state level, Preakas urged governments, as custodians of land matters, to proactively and consistently review such cases in consultation with local authorities and religious stakeholders.
