KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A notable church in Petaling Jaya, the St Ignatius Church, has been instructed to dismantle a car park it constructed on land owned by the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage. The local authorities have claimed that the parking lot is unlawful, sparking potential disruptions for the church’s congregation.
The Petaling District Office released a notice on October 29 demanding the removal of the car park, alleging it was built without proper authorization. This claim contradicts the permissions the church believed it had, based on a 2012 written approval from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) for leveling the land and converting it into parking space.
Legal representative for the church, Joy Appukuttan, communicated that the church has been under the impression that the use of the land for parking was legally sanctioned. The legal notice issued, citing Section 425 of the National Land Code, gives the church a 14-day period to comply with the removal requirement.
Appukuttan criticized the approach taken by the authorities, saying, “This action is bullying the church.” He highlighted the lack of dialogue from the officials before the issuance of the legal notice, indicating a possible oversight or miscommunication in the administration’s enforcement actions.
Further complicating the issue, the lawyer is seeking to engage local government representatives to mediate and potentially rectify the situation. He has reportedly reached out to Bandar Utama assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin to facilitate a meeting with the relevant authorities to discuss the matter.
The parking facilities at St Ignatius Church serve a crucial role for its congregation, particularly during services and gatherings, indicating that any disruptions could affect attendance and church operations.
Members of the church community have expressed their concerns regarding the potential impact on their ability to attend services, signaling a broader worry about community well-being and access to the church, especially for those with limited mobility.
This incident highlights the ongoing issues of land use and municipal management, raising questions about the effectiveness of communication and adherence to procedures between public bodies and private entities.
The resolution of this dispute would require careful consideration of the historical permissions granted and the current enforcement of land regulations, balancing between adherence to legal frameworks and the operational needs of community institutions like the St Ignatius Church.
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