KLANG, MALAYSIA February 10, 2026 – His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, today issued a press statement expressing full support for the firm position of Prime Minister, Dato’Seri Anwar Ibrahim, regarding the rejection of any construction of places of worship without permission and without adhering to established regulations.
The statement, issued by the Office of the Private Secretary to His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor, referred to the Prime Minister’s speech on 7 February 2026, which was reaffirmed during an audience with His Royal Highness on 8 February 2026.
His Royal Highness emphasized that this resolute stance of the Federal Government is in line with the principles He has always stressed: ensuring that all development is carried out in accordance with the law and good governance, particularly the construction of places of worship—especially Hindu temples—so that it is implemented in an orderly manner from a legal perspective and in harmony with sustainable urban planning.
The Sultan of Selangor also revealed that He had been informed by the Selangor State Government of the statistics on unauthorized Hindu temple constructions as of 31 January 2026, totalling 687 temples. Of this number, 388 were built on government-owned land while 299 were on private land.
His Royal Highness described the figure as high relative to the Indian Hindu population, which constitutes approximately 11.3% of Selangor’s population, and noted that this does not include temples that have been lawfully established with approval from the state authorities.
As the Head of Islam in the State of Selangor, His Royal Highness has always been mindful of the sensitivities of a multiracial and multireligious society, in keeping with the principle of tolerance that forms the foundation of harmony. He stressed that every place of worship must be built based on proper applications and approvals from the relevant authorities, and any construction without permission—especially those involving encroachment on government or private land—could lead to inter-religious disputes and pose a threat to security.
His Royal Highness also reminded the government and Local Authorities (PBT) to scrutinize applications transparently, fairly, and systematically, as well as to intensify monitoring to curb unauthorized constructions.
Finally, the Sultan of Selangor urged that the issue of unauthorized temple construction be halted and resolved immediately, as it has long caused unease and affected the peace and harmony of society.
The statement is viewed as a response to the Prime Minister’s recent call for all state governments to comply with guidelines on the construction of places of worship, and for Local Authorities to be empowered to take action against unapproved structures, regardless of religion.
The full press statement can be accessed via the official @SelangorRoyal account on the X platform.
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