RM80m for non-Muslim houses of worship welcomed, but MCCBCHST wants fair access

THE Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has welcomed the government’s decision to increase the allocation for maintaining registered non-Muslim houses of worship to RM80 mil under Budget 2027.

The council expressed appreciation to the government, particularly Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, for recognising the needs of non-Muslim religious communities and supporting the upkeep and development of their places of worship.

“We welcome this increased allocation as a positive and meaningful step towards ensuring that non-Muslim houses of worship receive the necessary support to maintain safe, conducive and dignified environments for religious practices,” MCCBCHST said in a statement.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the increased allocation when tabling Budget 2027 in Parliament on Oct 9.

The funding is intended to support maintenance of registered non-Muslim houses of worship, including temples and churches.

MCCBCHST said the allocation should be accompanied by a transparent, equitable and accessible disbursement process so that houses of worship across the country, particularly those with limited financial resources, could benefit.

“We hope the allocation will be distributed through a process that is transparent, fair and accessible, ensuring that houses of worship in need are not left behind,” the council continued.

The council also called on the government to continue increasing the allocation in subsequent years, noting that religious premises require sustained financial support for maintenance, repairs and improvements.

“Many non-Muslim houses of worship depend largely on donations and contributions from well-wishers to sustain their operations. Smaller houses of worship, in particular, often struggle to secure adequate funding for essential maintenance and repairs,” MCCBCHST said.

It added that continued government support was crucial to ensuring these premises remained safe, well-maintained and suitable for religious activities.

“Continued government support is therefore crucial to ensuring that these places of worship remain safe, well-maintained and conducive for their respective religious communities,” the council said.

MCCBCHST said the increased allocation would be most meaningful if it reached communities facing genuine financial constraints and helped them maintain their places of worship for the long term. ‒ Oct 14, 2026

Main image : Unsplash/Daniel Stiel

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