KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 -- The government has imposed an immediate freeze on any new construction or expansion at 163 unauthorised non-Muslim places of worship (RIBI) identified on public land in the city.

Announcing the move, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said 11 new sub-committees, led by local members of parliament, will be established to seek fair and structured solutions for these existing sites.

The initiative follows a high-level meeting chaired by Yeoh, which for the first time included Kuala Lumpur MPs and the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) to strengthen the resolution process.

"The Madani government is adopting a ...