Don't tell me how to live with my multi-religious family

Don't tell me how to live with my multi-religious family

Zan Azlee
Published: Feb 8, 2025 12:54 PM
Updated: 6:30 PM



COMMENT | I do not welcome any law or policy that serves as a “guide” or anything else on how I am supposed to behave, act or respond when I visit my family and friends.

So, I am in total disagreement with the proposal that the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar brought up about guidelines for events involving Muslims in celebrations and funerals in non-Muslim houses of worship.

I come from a mixed-race family which consists of Malays, Chinese, Indians and, dare I use the word, “others”.

That also means that between all of us, there are many different religions being practised (and probably even no religion). We all love each other, care for each other and respect each other. We all were brought up, grew up and lived together very happily.

Every Chinese New Year (even the most recent one which is going on right now), we celebrate with much aplomb. There are reunion dinners, firecrackers, ang pow packets, fun card playing, lion dances and a whole lot of visiting of elders.

It is of no concern which member is practising what religion. We just get together and celebrate being a family, and we do it very happily.

During Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we also celebrate with much vigour. There is the morning Aidilfitri prayers, the huge spread of laksa Johor, lontong and rendang, green packets, fireworks and definitely, also a whole lot of visiting of different relatives.

It is of no concern which member is practising what religion. We get together and celebrate being a family, and we do it very happily.

When it comes to Deepavali, we also celebrate it wholeheartedly. We dress up in traditional Indian clothes (except for me because T-shirts and shorts are my obligatory uniform no matter the festival) and we visit relatives and friends.

There will be huge spreads of mutton, curry, cauliflower, briyani and capati, along with purple packets being given out and the occasional card playing.

Let me also tell you about Christmas. We would all gather on the eve of the night to have dinner and we would all bring presents to exchange with each other and there would be a tree with lights and everything.

Again, it is of no concern which member is practising what religion. We get together and celebrate being a family, and we do it very happily.

Lucky, happy multi-religious family

My family has been doing this as far back as I can remember for the whole 47 years of my life. Now that I am married, I find myself pretty lucky to have a wife who also comes from a multiracial and multireligious family.

Let me tell you that our families are very happy and we get along very well. There has been no conflict of religion and everyone is just so understanding and respectful by default.


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Yes, there are many religious rituals and practices that are conducted during religious ceremonies, and even during funerals. My wife, kids and I attend funerals of our aunties and uncles of many faiths, from Taoist and Buddhist to Christianity and Islam.

We also attend weddings and other religious celebrations celebrated by all of our family members. We show up out of love, respect and filial duty.

When we do get together, those who have their specific beliefs will do what they have to do and those with different beliefs will do what they have to do. We all know our responsibilities and boundaries. There has never been any issue whatsoever.

This is probably something people who were raised in very homogenous families or environments would probably never be able to understand or experience.

So, I do not need to have the government or any authority (or Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh) tell me that I do not know how to interact with my own family.

Who says that just because they are politicians means that they know better than everyone else? In fact, I might even dare say that my family knows how to live harmoniously in a multiracial and multireligious environment better than many others.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has now come out to say that the cabinet has decided that these guidelines for Muslims participating in non-Muslim places of worship are not required.

Good job Mr PM! Now make sure that this is understood by everyone else. We do not need any more stupid proposals and suggestions that will threaten the very fibre of our harmonious multiracial, multi-religious and multicultural society.

ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary filmmaker, journalist and academic. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work.