The developer of a new housing project in Langkawi - whose rooftop structures look like white crosses from a distance - has been called for a meeting by the Langkawi District Council on the matter.

Kedah Housing Committee chairperson Tajul Urus Mat Zain said the meeting, set to be held tomorrow, would decide whether the developer should change the colour of the structures to match the roof tiles so they do not resemble crosses.

“The meeting will give the developer an opportunity to present their points on whether the design is a trend.

“I want them to sit down and point out whether they are meant to be crosses,” he said, as quoted by The Star Online today.

He also denied that he had ordered the buildings to be demolished.

“After the photos went viral on the internet, I gave a few statements but now I am reluctant to give further statements as I am afraid that what I say will be twisted by other parties.

“I ordered my officers to check on the housing project after pictures of the houses went viral.

“If the crosses are very obvious, my advice to the developer is to re-paint the features,” he said.

Tajul said he had spoken with the developer and “as far as I am concerned, the appearance was not the developer’s intention”.

Newly completed, the terraced homes, near Taman Sri Langkawi and Kampung Bakau, however, have yet to obtain certificate of occupation.

When seen from the sea, white features along the red-tiled roofs create the impression of a row of sea-facing white crosses.

Photos of the roof features hit social media last week.

Although some Muslims expressed their distaste, others brushed it off as harmless coincidence.