Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Authorities have demolished a church in a Muslim-ruled state in northeast Malaysia, sparking anger among the indigenous people who say they own the property, a religious official said yesterday.
Wong Kim Kong, a minister and secretary general of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship of Malaysia, said the wooden and brick church was torn down on June 8 by local district officials in Kelantan state.
“The authorities said they demolished the church because it was built without their permission,” he said.
Racial and religious tensions have recently mounted in Muslim-majority but multiracial Malaysia. Minority religious groups fear their rights are being undermined, even though Malaysia is traditionally seen as moderate.
Malaysia’s main Islamic opposition party, the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS), rules Kelantan state.
Husam Musa, the state public administration and economic planning committee chairman, said he had not received a report about the incident and could not comment.
“There is a feeling of anger. It has caused much stress among them,” Wong said, referring to some 30 indigenous residents, known as Orang Asli.
Wong said the church was built on land owned by the village head, and the law says the Orang Asli have the right to use the land for their own purposes.
He urged the government to punish those behind the demolition.
“Tough action must be taken against those involved,” he said.
Wong said the district office had agreed to rebuild a “community centre” at another site but the locals have rejected the plan.
“They want their church and it must be reconstructed at the original place,” he said.
The Orang Asli, the original inhabitants of Malaysia, make up less than 1% of the nation’s population and are disadvantaged in terms of income, health, education and living standards.