| Summary: | This paper investigates the delays in planning permission applications for Tahfiz institutions in Selangor. Malaysia experiences a significant number of illegal constructions that are built without the required planning licences, primarily due to insufficient monitoring and enforcement by local authorities. The absence of supervision results in unapproved constructions that can potentially endanger safety and hinder urban planning initiatives, and this includes the illegal construction of Tahfiz Institutions. There is no proper regulation on the development of Tahfiz Institution in terms of its Planning Permission until the year 2020. In 2021, the Selangor state has established a guideline on the Legalisation of Private Religious Schools (Tahfiz Institution) after the wake of the tragic incident of a deadly fire at Tahfiz Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah in September 2017. A purposive sampling method is chosen for expert interviews. Through interviews with two professional town planners responsible for preparing submissions, two town planning officers from the local authority involved in evaluating planning permissions, and an owner of a Tahfiz institution who has experienced the submission process, as well as a review of secondary data, several key factors were identified: regulatory complexity, a lack of awareness and understanding of technical requirements, inefficiencies in government initiatives, resource constraints, and extended timelines due to technical requirements. The study highlights the significant implications of these findings for the development and operation of Tahfiz institutions. Simplifying regulatory processes, enhancing awareness and educational efforts, improving implemented guidelines, providing financial support, and strengthening coordination among agencies are recommended to address these challenges. Correspondingly, the study acknowledges its limitations, including its focus on the planning permission process. By addressing the identified factors, policymakers can create a more supportive environment for the growth and sustainability of Tahfiz institutions in Malaysia. © 2025 by MIP.
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