.jpg "Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali speaks to reporters during a press conference at Parliament in Kuala Lumpur March 10, 2015. u00e2u20acu201d Picture by Yusof Mat Isan")
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Christmas is still five days away, but the PKR-led Selangor government have decided to gift early presents to a Protestant church group and other non-Muslim creeds in the state.
Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali said his administration has approved RM200,000 for the ongoing construction of an office and chapel owned by the country’s umbrella Protestant church body, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM), and a state budget of RM6 million in repair and renovation assistance for non-Muslim places of worship.
“It is our commitment to continue to support religious institutions of various faiths in Selangor,” he said in his speech at the state-organised Christmas celebration in Klang last night.
He said he doubled the state allocation for non-Muslim creeds from RM3 million after taking office in September 2014 to prove his commitment.
“I am happy to announce that for 2016, the same amount has been maintained,” he said.
“As we approach Christmas, let us be reminded that while it is a season for receiving, it is more importantly a time for giving,” he added.
