Idris ducks questions on sultan’s call to attend Bon Odori
Bon Odori, the annual Japanese summer festival, will be held in Shah Alam on July 16 and in Penang on July 30. (Bernama pic)
HULU LANGAT: Religious affairs minister Idris Ahmad has refused to comment on whether he will be taking up the Sultan of Selangor’s call for him to attend the Bon Odori festival in Shah Alam.
Idris, who on Tuesday had said Muslims should not take part in the annual summer festival, repeatedly refused to comment on the issue when asked by reporters.
“I don’t want to prolong this Bon Odori issue,” he simply said. He also urged the media to ask him questions on issues other than the Bon Odori festival.
Idris had said on Friday that the Bon Odori celebration was “influenced by elements of other religions”, following research by Jakim, the Islamic development department.
Idris Ahmad.
On Wednesday, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is head of the Islamic religion in Selangor, told the state Islamic religious department (Jais) to allow the Bon Odori festival to proceed.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he had attended Bon Odori several years ago and did not find it detrimental to the practice of the Islamic faith.
He also instructed officials of Jais and Shah Alam City Council to attend Bon Odori to “see for themselves” what takes place at the festival.
A day later, he called on Idris, who is also a PAS vice-president, to attend the festival to “understand the difference between religion and culture”.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he did not want the minister to use Jakim to make “confusing and inaccurate statements which could negatively affect the image and reputation of the department”.
Bon Odori, which is organised by the Japanese community in Malaysia, is making a return after a two-year hiatus because of Covid-19. It will be held in Shah Alam on July 16 and in Penang on July 30.
The festival showcases Japanese culture and includes drum performances and the Bon Odori dance.
HULU LANGAT: Religious affairs minister Idris Ahmad has refused to comment on whether he will be taking up the Sultan of Selangor’s call for him to attend the Bon Odori festival in Shah Alam.
Idris, who on Tuesday had said Muslims should not take part in the annual summer festival, repeatedly refused to comment on the issue when asked by reporters.
“I don’t want to prolong this Bon Odori issue,” he simply said. He also urged the media to ask him questions on issues other than the Bon Odori festival.
Idris had said on Friday that the Bon Odori celebration was “influenced by elements of other religions”, following research by Jakim, the Islamic development department.
Idris Ahmad.On Wednesday, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who is head of the Islamic religion in Selangor, told the state Islamic religious department (Jais) to allow the Bon Odori festival to proceed.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he had attended Bon Odori several years ago and did not find it detrimental to the practice of the Islamic faith.
He also instructed officials of Jais and Shah Alam City Council to attend Bon Odori to “see for themselves” what takes place at the festival.
A day later, he called on Idris, who is also a PAS vice-president, to attend the festival to “understand the difference between religion and culture”.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he did not want the minister to use Jakim to make “confusing and inaccurate statements which could negatively affect the image and reputation of the department”.
Bon Odori, which is organised by the Japanese community in Malaysia, is making a return after a two-year hiatus because of Covid-19. It will be held in Shah Alam on July 16 and in Penang on July 30.
The festival showcases Japanese culture and includes drum performances and the Bon Odori dance.
No comments:
Post a Comment