Building near Macau Mosque raises concerns

Some residents have expressed their concern regarding the possibility of the construction of a residential building as tall as 143 meters to be constructed on the land lot of the Macau Mosque and Muslim Cemetery, as approved by the government. Some argued that this might affect the environment of the nearby region, including the water reservoir that is a popular jogging spot in the city. Meanwhile, the Islamic Association Macau, the leaser of the lot, claimed that they have submitted the application since 2006 and have never received a response from the government. It also reiterated that the new building is mainly for religious use. Lao Iong from the department of urban planning of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSPOT) said that officials have been negotiating with the applicant for a long time but failed to reach a consensus.