Malays and the 'C' word

Malays and the 'C' word

Mariam Mokhtar


COMMENT | The recent ban on the two words, “Merry Christmas”, has nothing to do with religion or religious conservatism, but it has everything to do with control.

Otherwise, why would the greeting, “Merry Christmas” alarm conservative Malays?

Christmas is a time for sharing, a reason to be jolly, for showing forgiveness, compassion, and giving presents, but for some Malays, Christmas is a time for banning things.

Usually around Christmas, irrational fear strikes many conservative Muslims. If ordinary Malays are allowed to share Christmas greetings with fellow Malaysians, what other liberties will they demand tomorrow?

The authorities need to be strict with bans on greetings, or open houses to discourage interaction of the races, and anything that resembles fun, simply to fulfil their desire to control peoples’ behaviour.

A halal-certified bakery recently announced that it was not allowed to display cakes with “Merry Christmas” on the icing. The public outrage prompted the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar to deny the ban on the cake icing.

The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) then reversed the 2020 directive banning the greeting on Christmas cakes despite the cake shop trying to justify its “No Merry Christmas” message to customers, insisting that it was merely following orders.

Who do you believe amid the allegations, counter-allegations, and denials?


All about politics, power

The hardcore, conservative Malays, cannot bear to see Malaysians of all faiths interacting with one another. They appear to enjoy building walls, whilst exercising their mentality of Ketuanan Melayu (Malay superiority).

It’s not just about control, as it is also about politics and the need for politicians to remain in power. Race and religion are powerful tools to exercise control over ignorant and docile fellow Malaysians to make them compliant.

For centuries, the nation’s non-Christians celebrated Christmas with their Christian friends, and wished them “Merry Christmas”. Where and when did it all go wrong? How do the religious authorities justify the recent bans?

Did the officials believe that a cake iced with the words “Merry Christmas” would become non-halal by the words alone? No, of course not!

Did they think the employees baking and icing the cake would embrace Christianity? No.

What about cakes that are baked at home and shared with friends? Are they considered non-halal?

Serious damage had been inflicted on community relations and netizens accused the staff of the cake shop of being racist. It is all about control, divide and rule.

In 2010, when the erstwhile prime minister Najib Abdul Razak attended the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’s Christmas tea party, Najib’s officials arrived ahead of him and removed crucifixes.

It was alleged that Najib himself had not requested a ban on crosses and crucifixes or other religious paraphernalia. Did the Little Napoleons act on their own initiative, or are we seeing members of the deep state in action?


All down to insecurity?

In Malaysia, the main three Cs - Chinese, Communists, and Christians - are used to brainwash the minds of Malaysians.

There are also minor C-words.

Carols are strictly banned because it is alleged that singing carols will easily affect the Muslims’ aqidah (faith). Some Malays are told that singing popular songs like ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’, ‘Away in a Manger’, ‘We Three Kings’, and ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ will Christianise the average Muslim.

The traditional Christmas cake is just a classic rich fruit cake that is covered with marzipan and fondant icing. The fuss over the iced “Merry Christmas” greeting is not justified. Words alone will not make the cake non-halal, except for cakes that are fed with brandy to keep the fruit heavenly moist.

Posting Christmas cards will keep Pos Malaysia in business, but in the age of technology, most people prefer sending SMS Christmas greetings. If Muslims can send text messages to divorce their wives, Christians should have no qualms about sending or receiving Christmas greetings by text.

Christmas crackers are a rarity in Malaysia as it’s largely a British tradition and any that are sold are very expensive. Will they be banned because they contain gunpowder or silver fulminate to make them explosive?

Everyone loves receiving Christmas presents. In Santa’s Grotto, many who attend are Muslim children.

Christmas lights and trees dominate many shopping malls and decorating an ordinary tree will transform it into a beautiful centrepiece. Although frowned upon by some conservative Malays, many Muslim families often congregate around the tree, taking photographs and generally having fun.

If anything must be banned, then it should be the Christmas turkey as the meat is bland.

Christmas wishes are probably on the to-be-banned list because the wishes are not made according to the traditional guidelines of prayers to God.

In Malaysia, we do not need a rotund Father Christmas with a white beard dressed in red to deliver presents. Malaysians have experienced many Santa Clauses generously handing out sacks of food items and wads of cash especially around election time. In the run-up to elections, every politician is a Santa Claus.

The cross is banned from public display because it is rumoured to send out invisible rays, which will make Muslims want to convert to Christianity. These rays are like the invisible force that the Jedi knights in the ‘Star Wars’ films use to control our minds.

Are conservative Muslims threatened by the Christian spirit of forgiveness? Or are they livid that the “other” spirit is abundant and free-flowing around Christmas?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.



MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.