'Are we a nanny state?': Nazri dismisses interfaith guidelines
Alyaa Alhadjri
Published: Feb 22, 2025 10:00 AM
Updated: 6:01 PM
Summary
- Former ambassador to the United States Nazri Aziz says fostering interfaith relations is a daily affair in Malaysia.
- He stresses there is no need for a new interfaith guideline to tell Malaysians how to live their daily lives.
- The former law minister defends Raub MP Chow Yu Hui who, in response to the proposed guideline, mooted the appointment of a non-Muslim affairs minister.
INTERVIEW | As Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States, Nazri Aziz, who recently concluded his two-year tenure, said a part of his role involved attending events hosted by mosques in Washington DC that aimed to foster interfaith relations.
Asked about his views on recent controversies arising from proposed guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events, which has since been rejected by the cabinet, Nazri stressed there was no need for such a “ridiculous and stupid” proposal.
“I don’t think there is any need for any interfaith guidelines,” he told Malaysiakini during an interview at his home.
Nazri said interfaith relations were something Malaysians did every day for as long as anyone can remember.
“And suddenly today we need an interfaith ruling (guidelines)? Are we a nanny state or something like that? To tell us how to behave?
“I totally disagree and I think it is ridiculous to tell us how to behave,” the former law minister said in reference to the initial proposal mooted by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar.
‘Let’s be ourselves’
Nazri recounted that his speeches in the US underscored how fostering interfaith relations is a daily affair in Malaysia, and reiterated that Malaysians should be allowed to continue with existing ways of living.
“Let us be ourselves. You don’t need to tell us how to behave. This is not a nanny state. I am very upset about this.
Asked about his views on recent controversies arising from proposed guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events, which has since been rejected by the cabinet, Nazri stressed there was no need for such a “ridiculous and stupid” proposal.
“I don’t think there is any need for any interfaith guidelines,” he told Malaysiakini during an interview at his home.
Nazri said interfaith relations were something Malaysians did every day for as long as anyone can remember.
“And suddenly today we need an interfaith ruling (guidelines)? Are we a nanny state or something like that? To tell us how to behave?
“I totally disagree and I think it is ridiculous to tell us how to behave,” the former law minister said in reference to the initial proposal mooted by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar.
‘Let’s be ourselves’
Nazri recounted that his speeches in the US underscored how fostering interfaith relations is a daily affair in Malaysia, and reiterated that Malaysians should be allowed to continue with existing ways of living.
“Let us be ourselves. You don’t need to tell us how to behave. This is not a nanny state. I am very upset about this.
Minister in the PM’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar
“It has never been a problem, but suddenly today we cannot sing Merry Christmas? Eh, it’s not going to change my faith!
“This is ridiculous, I am not for it,” he stressed.
New guidelines
In a written reply to the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 4, Na’im said the government is planning to introduce the new guidelines.
Among others, organisers are to seek permission from religious authorities if the event includes Muslims, and the events must not contain elements that could offend Muslim sensitivities.
ALSO READ: Nazri: Sedition Act needed for 'irresponsible people' like Zakir Naik
Following strong opposition from multiple political parties and civil groups, the cabinet ruled that the Islamic Development Department may only provide advisory guidance to Muslims on such matters and the guidelines should not be implemented as official policy.
Commenting further, Nazri blamed the government for subsequent reactions sparked by the rejected proposal, including from Raub MP Chow Yu Hui who mooted the appointment of a non-Muslim affairs minister to partner Na’im under the Prime Minister’s Department.
“It has never been a problem, but suddenly today we cannot sing Merry Christmas? Eh, it’s not going to change my faith!
“This is ridiculous, I am not for it,” he stressed.
New guidelines
In a written reply to the Dewan Rakyat on Feb 4, Na’im said the government is planning to introduce the new guidelines.
Among others, organisers are to seek permission from religious authorities if the event includes Muslims, and the events must not contain elements that could offend Muslim sensitivities.
ALSO READ: Nazri: Sedition Act needed for 'irresponsible people' like Zakir Naik
Following strong opposition from multiple political parties and civil groups, the cabinet ruled that the Islamic Development Department may only provide advisory guidance to Muslims on such matters and the guidelines should not be implemented as official policy.
Commenting further, Nazri blamed the government for subsequent reactions sparked by the rejected proposal, including from Raub MP Chow Yu Hui who mooted the appointment of a non-Muslim affairs minister to partner Na’im under the Prime Minister’s Department.
Raub MP Chow Yu Hui
“This is the fault of the government. The person in charge of religious affairs, the minister should not have in the first place suggested that we should have the guidelines.
“Because if you want to have those guidelines, obviously it needed to be discussed with non-Muslims. Which means (appointing) another minister,” he argued.
Nazri defends Raub MP
Previously, National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang said there is no need to appoint a separate minister in charge of non-Muslim affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department, and instead suggested that all related issues could be brought to the Interfaith Harmony Division under his ministry.
Nazri noted that the cabinet also rejected Chow’s proposal last week but he went on to defend the DAP lawmaker against critics in the opposition and government.
“I don’t blame him (Chow). I think it was right for him to do that because when anything affects both groups, Muslim and non-Muslims, there must be a representation from both groups at the same minister level if we were to proceed (with the proposal).
“Now it has been rejected so there’s no necessity, but I don’t blame him for suggesting.
“That’s only a reaction to the proposal which was wrong and stupid,” said Nazri.
Among others, the PAS ulama council described Chow’s proposal as an ill-conceived and irrational suggestion.
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki called for Chow to respect the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution, while Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil dismissed the suggestion as “impractical and unnecessary”.
“This is the fault of the government. The person in charge of religious affairs, the minister should not have in the first place suggested that we should have the guidelines.
“Because if you want to have those guidelines, obviously it needed to be discussed with non-Muslims. Which means (appointing) another minister,” he argued.
Nazri defends Raub MP
Previously, National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang said there is no need to appoint a separate minister in charge of non-Muslim affairs under the Prime Minister’s Department, and instead suggested that all related issues could be brought to the Interfaith Harmony Division under his ministry.
Nazri noted that the cabinet also rejected Chow’s proposal last week but he went on to defend the DAP lawmaker against critics in the opposition and government.
“I don’t blame him (Chow). I think it was right for him to do that because when anything affects both groups, Muslim and non-Muslims, there must be a representation from both groups at the same minister level if we were to proceed (with the proposal).
“Now it has been rejected so there’s no necessity, but I don’t blame him for suggesting.
“That’s only a reaction to the proposal which was wrong and stupid,” said Nazri.
Among others, the PAS ulama council described Chow’s proposal as an ill-conceived and irrational suggestion.
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki called for Chow to respect the position of Islam in the Federal Constitution, while Amanah secretary-general Faiz Fadzil dismissed the suggestion as “impractical and unnecessary”.
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kt remarks:
As I've mentioned I luv his head-kicking proclivity, especially at PAS, wakakaka.
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