Public hearings just for window dressing

Below is the full press statement issued by the Selangor Buddhist Development Committee (SBDC) in regards to the lack of response from the local authorities towards the objections submitted by the Buddhist community on the Draft Local Plans 2020 by the relevant authorities.  About 40 Buddhist community leaders and devotees were present during the press conference. The Press Conference was held on 9 Dec 2010 at the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association which was chaired by Loka Ng Sai Kai, Chairman of the SBDC.

PRESS STATEMENT

Local authorities lack of response towards the public hearing objections on the Draft Local Plan 2020(Lack of Structural Provisions for Buddhist Places of Worship)

9th December 2010

SBDC (& its precursor, Buddhist Committee on MPSJ Local Draft Plan 2020) had submitted the objections with over 4000 signatories on January 28th 2008. The MPSJ DLP 2020 public hearing was held on June 22nd 2009. The Public Hearing Panel Chairman YB Iskandar Abd Samad stated the Selangor State Planning Committee (SPC) would decide if the objection(s) were relevant, if not, be discussed on a case-by-case basis (Attachment 1). SDBC submitted a letter (Attachment 2) to enquire the matter on June 10th 2010 but received no response. The gazetted MPSJ Local Plan 2020 is expected to be published soon with minimal considerations to SBDC’s proposals and objections (Attachment 3).

SBDC subsequently submitted similar objections to the MPS, MPAJ, MPKj, MDHS & MDKL DLP 2020 on January 31st 2010 (Attachment 4). To date, SBDC had attended the MBPJ, MDHS, MPS, MPKj & MPAJ Draft Local Plans 2020 public hearings on March 8th, June 14th, June 28th, July 8th & Nov 1st 2010 respectively. On all occasions, the Chairman YB Iskandar Abd Samad, accompanied by the Selangor Jabatan Perancangan Bandar & Desa Semenanjung (JBDS) director, Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan, mentioned that SBDC would be consulted further on their objections. However it is with huge disappointment that SBDC was never invited for further consultations and NO such discussion(s) with any of the above-mentioned local councils had taken place since then.

Furthermore, responding to the authorities’ indifference attitude, more than 1023 residents of Putra Heights & USJ Subang Jaya have petitioned to request Datuk Mohd Jaafar to facilitate Putra Heights Buddhist Society’s land applications with the MPSJ and Petaling Land office for an update. There has been NO response or feedback since these applications were made in June & August 2010.

In view of such unfavourable developments which lacks of transparency and accountability, SBDC wishes to highlight the following

1. With reference to religious practice, we urged the State Planning Committee and Jabatan Perancangan Bandar & Desa Selangor to be more vigourous and professional in adhering to its own guidelines in relation to the provisions for building of places of worship for non-Muslims, which is one place of worship for every 2,600 devotees or 5,000 residents.

We emphasized that there are needs for more free-standing Buddhist temples (Vihara Buddha) with sufficient facilities to cater for the spiritual and religious education needs of the Buddhist Community in Selangor.

2. SBDC (& more than 4000 Buddhist objectors) urged the relevant authorities to be fully accounted for and explain why MPSJ (& other local councils) have NOT seriously considered SBDC’s objections. As such, the communiqués and consultation for their decision(s) MUST be done with more transparency and accountability.

We therefore seek the State Planning Committee to take cognizance of this matter seriously and listen to the voice of the people.

3. SBDC reiterates our objections to the usage of the term “Rumah Ibadat (tokong / vihara / kuil / gereja / gudwara )” in Draft Local Plan Majlis Perbandaran Selayang 2020 & all other draft local plans in Selangor. This will further dilute the Buddhist Vihara structural provisions in these local draft plans.

4. SBDC also urges the SPC, Selangor Land Office and the Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Selain Islam Negeri Selangor to clearly elucidate in writing the gazette mechanisms & provisions of land for non-Muslim places of worship.

We hereby stressed that the SBDC are prepared to engaged and work closely with the State and the relevant authorities for Buddhist temples to be built on land allocated by the Selangor State Government which are designated for places of worship. As stakeholders in this state, all we seek is the State government’s attention, understanding and compassion towards the needs of our community to have proper land to build and manage our Buddhist temples.