THE Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), through its Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia), has finalised a draft of the new Planning Guidelines for Non-Muslim Houses of Worship (RIBI), which is set to be tabled before the Cabinet for approval.
The move seeks to replace the existing guidelines in use since 2009 for temples, churches and gurdwaras across Malaysia.
Speaking in the Dewan Negara during the winding-up session on the King’s Royal Address for the ministry, Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu explained that the draft guidelines are intended to provide a modernised framework for planning, construction and maintenance.
It is also to ensure that land development without approval is effectively regulated.
“The KPKT’s role is limited to considering and approving applications for financial aid under the Nationwide RIBI Maintenance Initiative based on the eligibility conditions set out in the Guidelines for the Nationwide Non-Muslim Houses of Worship Maintenance Initiative,” she said.
Aiman Athirah highlighted the ministry’s enforcement efforts through local authorities, noting that last year 65 enforcement operations were conducted, resulting in 124 actions, including warning notices, compounds, relocation orders, and demolitions, to control unapproved land use.
In a related development, the Deputy Minister addressed the government’s ongoing review of affordable housing, known as ‘Rumah Mampu Milik’ (RMM) or affordable homes.
She emphasised that pricing and definitions would now be determined in a more localised context, reflecting residents’ actual income levels, market demand and the cost of living in urban centres.
“The determination of RMM prices will be implemented in a more localised context, whereby the prices are determined based on the characteristics of each locality, market demand levels and the financial capability of local residents,” she said, adding that this approach aims to ensure housing options truly meet the needs and financial capacity of communities, particularly in major cities.
Aiman Athirah added that the updated RMM framework would adopt a more holistic approach, ensuring that housing units are not only affordable but also dignified, comfortable, and aligned with the principles of the new National Housing Policy.
The draft guidelines for non-Muslim houses of worship and the revised affordable housing measures signal Malaysia’s commitment to equitable urban development while balancing cultural, religious, and economic considerations. - March 2, 2026
