Overview:

• Buddhism is the state religion.

• Partial recognition exists whereby even if a group receives registration this does not equate to the same existential recognition that Buddhism as a belief system receives; therefore, legal registration is the only means of recognition for all non-Buddhist entities.

• Societal discrimination against minorities should be resolved through greater government engagement with the tool of recognition to promote diversity of belief, improve religious education, and to reaffirm the protected, recognised statuses of minority groups.

• The rule of mandatory registration violates the Bielefeldt provision that registration should only be voluntary when a group is only conducting its worship activities; however, there presently exists no clearly stipulated penalties for unregistration.

• Zoning laws stated seem reasonable but require continued monitoring for potential misuse.

Positive elements:

• Nil.

Recommendations:

• Dissolve aspects of legislation that are cumbersome and restrictive (e.g. multi-level authorisation, capacity and membership quotas, mandatory registration).

• End restrictions placed on non-Buddhist activities including proselytism and distribution of literatures.

• Establish a system for existential recognition that possesses the provisions to protect non-Buddhist belief systems and groups.