GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government plans to establish more 'Streets of Harmony' across the state to promote and strengthen unity among the people, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
He said there were currently four 'Streets Of Harmony' on the island. These "Streets of Harmony" are where houses of worship for various religions are situated nearby.
They are in the Kapitan Keling Mosque area in George Town, Seberang Jaya and Bukit Mertajam and the latest one in Bayan Baru.
"We are also planning to have one in Ampang Jajar, Butterworth," he told reporters after opening the Street Of Harmony at Bayan Baru near here today.
The Street Of Harmony in Bayan Baru houses six houses of worship, namely the Snake Temple, Surau Al-Ubudiah, Seri Visvanather Sri Visalatchi Temple, Penang Charismatic Church, Gurdwara Sahib Bayan Baru and Than Hsiang Temple.
Chow said the state government is always committed to promoting harmony and has allocated RM1.3 million to Penang Harmony Corporation (HARMONICO) for the purpose.
The state government, he said, has also developed eRIBI, a database for non-Muslim houses of worship, serving as a one-stop centre to connect the state government with these communities.
This system aims to ensure a more systematic and organized management process, he added.
As of today, nearly 1,500 non-Muslim houses of worship in the state have registered under the eRIBI system.