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OPINION | "Another Nail In The Coffin For Pakatan Harapan And Selangor…?!!"
30 May 2026 • 1:30 PM MYT
Credit Image: Sinar Harian / Sinar Daily (Photo credit: Ng Size Han)
There is a well-known saying: "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad."
Is that exactly what we are witnessing in Selangor right now?
In the wake of the disastrous pig farming controversy, has the PH-led Selangor state government now resorted to playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette?
The latest flare-up erupted after Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung raised serious concerns over guidelines administered by PLANMalaysia Selangor—the state’s town and country planning department.
According to the said guidelines, which were quietly approved at a State Exco meeting in November last year, non-Islamic places of worship are barred from being located in commercial zones, and the conversion of existing commercial buildings for religious use is strictly prohibited.
In plain words: Non-Muslim places of worship are now banned from occupying commercial shoplots!
The official justification given for this sweeping rule is that these establishments cause traffic and parking congestion.
But logically, shouldn't it also apply across the board to all places of worship, regardless of faith?
Where is the fairness?
Is this yet another self-inflicted, potentially fatal wound?
The reality is many of these shoplots are occupied by churches whose services are held on Sunday mornings. This is a time when most surrounding shops and offices are closed—with the exception of restaurants, grocers, and shopping centres.
Don't these business premises contribute far more heavily to daily traffic and acute parking shortages? Based on the same flawed logic would it be fair to ban them from commercial lots and force them elsewhere just to ease congestion?
Ironically, Sunday mornings in the Klang Valley are also arguably the most peaceful time of the week, with fewer cars on the road and abundant parking.
Again, where is the logic?
Following the public uproar, the State Executive Councillor (Exco) for Investment, Trade, and Mobility, who also co-chairs the Special Committee for Non-Islamic Affairs (LIMAS) Ng Sze Han, quickly clarified that the Selangor government has not yet enforced or implemented these guidelines. He went on to state that a comprehensive review will be conducted in consultation with religious associations, with a meeting scheduled for early next month.
Oh, ya kah!
But why is the DAP, the de facto protector of minority rights in the state, only offering this reassurance now—after the public had been given a rude shock?
In fact, why was such a controversial policy approved by the State Exco in the first place? Who signed off on it? Weren't the DAP and PKR Exco members sitting in that very meeting?
Significantly, why weren't interfaith leaders and key stakeholders consulted prior to the approval—rather than six months later?
A damage control exercise? Or maybe even, just an afterthought!
Then came another bombshell…
There is a well-known saying: "Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad."
Is that exactly what we are witnessing in Selangor right now?
In the wake of the disastrous pig farming controversy, has the PH-led Selangor state government now resorted to playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette?
The latest flare-up erupted after Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung raised serious concerns over guidelines administered by PLANMalaysia Selangor—the state’s town and country planning department.
According to the said guidelines, which were quietly approved at a State Exco meeting in November last year, non-Islamic places of worship are barred from being located in commercial zones, and the conversion of existing commercial buildings for religious use is strictly prohibited.
In plain words: Non-Muslim places of worship are now banned from occupying commercial shoplots!
The official justification given for this sweeping rule is that these establishments cause traffic and parking congestion.
But logically, shouldn't it also apply across the board to all places of worship, regardless of faith?
Where is the fairness?
Is this yet another self-inflicted, potentially fatal wound?
The reality is many of these shoplots are occupied by churches whose services are held on Sunday mornings. This is a time when most surrounding shops and offices are closed—with the exception of restaurants, grocers, and shopping centres.
Don't these business premises contribute far more heavily to daily traffic and acute parking shortages? Based on the same flawed logic would it be fair to ban them from commercial lots and force them elsewhere just to ease congestion?
Ironically, Sunday mornings in the Klang Valley are also arguably the most peaceful time of the week, with fewer cars on the road and abundant parking.
Again, where is the logic?
Following the public uproar, the State Executive Councillor (Exco) for Investment, Trade, and Mobility, who also co-chairs the Special Committee for Non-Islamic Affairs (LIMAS) Ng Sze Han, quickly clarified that the Selangor government has not yet enforced or implemented these guidelines. He went on to state that a comprehensive review will be conducted in consultation with religious associations, with a meeting scheduled for early next month.
Oh, ya kah!
But why is the DAP, the de facto protector of minority rights in the state, only offering this reassurance now—after the public had been given a rude shock?
In fact, why was such a controversial policy approved by the State Exco in the first place? Who signed off on it? Weren't the DAP and PKR Exco members sitting in that very meeting?
Significantly, why weren't interfaith leaders and key stakeholders consulted prior to the approval—rather than six months later?
A damage control exercise? Or maybe even, just an afterthought!
Then came another bombshell…
Screenshot of news headline and image from FMT
A spokesperson from the Menteri Besar’s office reportedly defended the guidelines, claiming they were based on complaints received by local councils from residents living near commercial areas.
But does that even sound reasonable?
Isn't it strange that these residents only seem to complain about traffic problems occurring on quiet Sundays, while remaining silent on busy Saturdays, Fridays and other peak weekdays?
Still, according to the spokesman for all future new developments, land will be specially gazetted for non-Muslim places of worship.
Wow, really!
But wait a minute—for which religious group?
Have they forgotten that while there is only one major religion, there is more than one non-Islamic faith in this country?
Perhaps, all the ruckus created by the “anti-illegal temple” group earlier must have clouded their judgement.
So, with housing estates out of bounds, shophouses restricted, and industrial areas likely next, where are future churches and religious associations supposed to go?
Will they have to move to another state?
It's a fact that Friday prayers also bring massive traffic congestion and parking challenges, but does anyone complain? Of course not. This is Malaysia, where everyone willingly accepts the temporary inconvenience out of mutual respect.
Crucially, where is the “religious sensitivity” by the authorities?
Perhaps, they too need to read and recite the Rukun Negara and the Federal Constitution more regularly.
Or is it that after 18 years in power, they have simply become tone-deaf?
Maybe, they have been spooked by the ghosts of a buoyant PAS and a fired-up UMNO breathing down their necks. Add to that Rafizi Ramli’s newly minted Parti Bersama Malaysia, which poses a clear and present danger to their incumbency.
Yet, instead of fortifying their base, they seem to shortchange the very loyal voters who put them in power.
Just last month, there was another uproar when the Menteri Besar claimed the state was facing difficulties sourcing affordable land to build a public hospital in the densely populated Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya areas. Yet, don't high-rise condos, luxury residential estates, and mega-malls continue to sprout up on virtually every corner there?
Is the writing already on the wall—and soon, the epitaph?
Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to profess and practice their religion peacefully. Why, then, are these fundamental rights being chipped away by the state's discriminatory zoning policies?
The warning signs were already flashing ominously after the last state elections. So how did PH—particularly PKR and DAP—lose the plot completely?
As it stands, it looks like Selangor could very well fall to the opposition PN, or even a BN-PN coalition by default. But the ultimate tragedy is the profound sense of betrayal felt by thousands of faithful PH supporters, who are left to ask: Does it really matter anymore who runs the state—after all, aren't they all the same?
But does that even sound reasonable?
Isn't it strange that these residents only seem to complain about traffic problems occurring on quiet Sundays, while remaining silent on busy Saturdays, Fridays and other peak weekdays?
Still, according to the spokesman for all future new developments, land will be specially gazetted for non-Muslim places of worship.
Wow, really!
But wait a minute—for which religious group?
Have they forgotten that while there is only one major religion, there is more than one non-Islamic faith in this country?
Perhaps, all the ruckus created by the “anti-illegal temple” group earlier must have clouded their judgement.
So, with housing estates out of bounds, shophouses restricted, and industrial areas likely next, where are future churches and religious associations supposed to go?
Will they have to move to another state?
It's a fact that Friday prayers also bring massive traffic congestion and parking challenges, but does anyone complain? Of course not. This is Malaysia, where everyone willingly accepts the temporary inconvenience out of mutual respect.
Crucially, where is the “religious sensitivity” by the authorities?
Perhaps, they too need to read and recite the Rukun Negara and the Federal Constitution more regularly.
Or is it that after 18 years in power, they have simply become tone-deaf?
Maybe, they have been spooked by the ghosts of a buoyant PAS and a fired-up UMNO breathing down their necks. Add to that Rafizi Ramli’s newly minted Parti Bersama Malaysia, which poses a clear and present danger to their incumbency.
Yet, instead of fortifying their base, they seem to shortchange the very loyal voters who put them in power.
Just last month, there was another uproar when the Menteri Besar claimed the state was facing difficulties sourcing affordable land to build a public hospital in the densely populated Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya areas. Yet, don't high-rise condos, luxury residential estates, and mega-malls continue to sprout up on virtually every corner there?
Is the writing already on the wall—and soon, the epitaph?
Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to profess and practice their religion peacefully. Why, then, are these fundamental rights being chipped away by the state's discriminatory zoning policies?
The warning signs were already flashing ominously after the last state elections. So how did PH—particularly PKR and DAP—lose the plot completely?
As it stands, it looks like Selangor could very well fall to the opposition PN, or even a BN-PN coalition by default. But the ultimate tragedy is the profound sense of betrayal felt by thousands of faithful PH supporters, who are left to ask: Does it really matter anymore who runs the state—after all, aren't they all the same?
The BN-PN dream team will likely win GE16
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