Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 12 March 2018
The Penang State Government grants this annual allocation of RM50k to MCCBCHST to promote religious harmony, understanding and mutual respect amongst different faiths in Penang.
The state government will continue to support within our means religions other than Islam to ensure that the Federal Constitution’s provision of freedom of worship is upheld. For this propose, the following 11 measures of religious freedom have been implemented:
- Establishing a Penang Executive Council (EXCO) for religions other than Islam portfolio that is headed by the Penang Chief Minister
- Allocating land for places of religious worship for religions other than Islam
- Providing funding amounting to RM30 million since 2008
- Granting approval by local government councils for construction of places of religious worship for religions other than Islam
- Granting a yearly allocation of RM1.5 million to the Hindu Endowment Board
- Giving a building in Macalister Road for Hindu Endowment Board to manage theirs affairs
- Ensuring that housing developers must provide for an equal amount of religious land for religions other than Islam
- Giving a building in Scotland Road to manage affairs specifically for Penang Executive Council (EXCO) for Religions Other Than Islam portfolio
- Annual allocations of RM50,000 to Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taosiam (MCCBCHST)
- Annual allocations to missionary or religious-based schools registered under the Ministry of Education.
- Apply for approval of paid leave for state government servants to non-Muslims conducting religious pilgrimage similar to Muslims performing their haj and umrah.