Malaysians from all walks of life gather for the Merdeka day celebration in Putrajaya in 2023. - Scoop file pic, February 6, 2025
More attempts to disrupt what it means to be a Malaysian – Terence Fernandez
Non-Muslims just want to stay in their lane but rules governing Muslims inadvertently impact minorities too
Terence Fernandez
Updated 15 hours ago
6 February, 2025
8:00 AM MYT
MANY times non-Muslims have been reminded, warned even, to stay out of Islamic issues. Not to comment or engage in any discussion because it does not concern them.
Have respect, they say. Do not interfere, they say. It is seditious, non-Muslims are warned. Unfortunately, this is hard to do, as Islam makes up a significant fabric of being Malaysian in Malaysia with it being the official religion and all.
Non-Muslims are inadvertently drawn into discussions and debates as Islamic issues end up encroaching into the non-Syariah compliant territory of the non-Muslim.
Be it the requirement for Halal certifications if your eatery is frequented by that one Muslim patron; the inability of some to understand simple English like ham (can we still call garden snails siput babi?); a rogue Indian preacher, wanted for terrorism in his homeland but given celebrity PR status and accorded VIP protection as he continues to be allowed to give ceramahs that insults non-Muslims.
There is no dearth of issues that keep dragging the non-Muslim who wants to mind his own business into the ring.
Just two days since the reconvening of the Parliament, non-Muslims are yet again drawn into another issue.
This time, there are restrictions on the time-honoured tradition of celebrating our diversity.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar in his written reply to Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh) on Tuesday, outlined that prior approval from Islamic authorities is needed by event organisers when inviting Muslims to festive events.
Whether they are held in one’s home, a balai raya or a non-Muslim house of worship, permission is needed. And yes, this covers funerals as well.
Now, no one is ever “invited” to a funeral. It’s not a birthday party. Upon learning of a death, people would usually flock to the home of the deceased to pay their respects. This is what ordinary decent folks do.
More attempts to disrupt what it means to be a Malaysian – Terence Fernandez
Non-Muslims just want to stay in their lane but rules governing Muslims inadvertently impact minorities too
Terence Fernandez
Updated 15 hours ago
6 February, 2025
8:00 AM MYT
MANY times non-Muslims have been reminded, warned even, to stay out of Islamic issues. Not to comment or engage in any discussion because it does not concern them.
Have respect, they say. Do not interfere, they say. It is seditious, non-Muslims are warned. Unfortunately, this is hard to do, as Islam makes up a significant fabric of being Malaysian in Malaysia with it being the official religion and all.
Non-Muslims are inadvertently drawn into discussions and debates as Islamic issues end up encroaching into the non-Syariah compliant territory of the non-Muslim.
Be it the requirement for Halal certifications if your eatery is frequented by that one Muslim patron; the inability of some to understand simple English like ham (can we still call garden snails siput babi?); a rogue Indian preacher, wanted for terrorism in his homeland but given celebrity PR status and accorded VIP protection as he continues to be allowed to give ceramahs that insults non-Muslims.
There is no dearth of issues that keep dragging the non-Muslim who wants to mind his own business into the ring.
Just two days since the reconvening of the Parliament, non-Muslims are yet again drawn into another issue.
This time, there are restrictions on the time-honoured tradition of celebrating our diversity.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Senator Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar in his written reply to Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan (PN-Permatang Pauh) on Tuesday, outlined that prior approval from Islamic authorities is needed by event organisers when inviting Muslims to festive events.
Whether they are held in one’s home, a balai raya or a non-Muslim house of worship, permission is needed. And yes, this covers funerals as well.
Now, no one is ever “invited” to a funeral. It’s not a birthday party. Upon learning of a death, people would usually flock to the home of the deceased to pay their respects. This is what ordinary decent folks do.
From left, Bersatu supreme council member Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, Gerakan deputy president Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Perikatan Nasional chairman and Bersatu President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,
Gerakan president Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, and Perikatan Nasional Secretary-General and Bersatu Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin toss Yee Sang at the Gerakan Chinese New Year celebration in 2024. – Social media pic, February 6, 2025
These new guidelines, Mohd Na’im said, will outline the involvement of Muslims in non-Muslim festive celebrations and include restrictions on speeches, singing, and distributing pamphlets that propagate other religions. (And no, Santa Claus is not a religious symbol. It is like saying ketupat represents Islam.)
The premises used for such events must not display non-Muslim religious symbols. What if these events are held at a temple or church? Deities need to be covered and crosses taken down?
These new guidelines, the minister said are in fact an “update” to the Guidelines for Muslims Attending Non-Muslim Festive Celebrations, which were endorsed by the Council’s Fatwa Muzakarah Committee in 2005 – 20 years ago!
These updates are to be finalised at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs meeting at the end of the month.
So, while Muslims and non-Muslims continue to live in harmony and mutual respect, there are other forces that appear to go into overdrive to divide us.
Question to Na’im: Have the Council of Rulers assented to these updates? Last one checked, it is their Royal Highnesses the Malay Rulers who decide on all things Islam.
Gerakan president Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, and Perikatan Nasional Secretary-General and Bersatu Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin toss Yee Sang at the Gerakan Chinese New Year celebration in 2024. – Social media pic, February 6, 2025
These new guidelines, Mohd Na’im said, will outline the involvement of Muslims in non-Muslim festive celebrations and include restrictions on speeches, singing, and distributing pamphlets that propagate other religions. (And no, Santa Claus is not a religious symbol. It is like saying ketupat represents Islam.)
The premises used for such events must not display non-Muslim religious symbols. What if these events are held at a temple or church? Deities need to be covered and crosses taken down?
These new guidelines, the minister said are in fact an “update” to the Guidelines for Muslims Attending Non-Muslim Festive Celebrations, which were endorsed by the Council’s Fatwa Muzakarah Committee in 2005 – 20 years ago!
These updates are to be finalised at the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs meeting at the end of the month.
So, while Muslims and non-Muslims continue to live in harmony and mutual respect, there are other forces that appear to go into overdrive to divide us.
Question to Na’im: Have the Council of Rulers assented to these updates? Last one checked, it is their Royal Highnesses the Malay Rulers who decide on all things Islam.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak attends a Deepavali event in 2013. – Social media pic, February 6, 2025
I was at a Chinese New Year luncheon recently, where a Sultan was wishing everyone a Gong Xi Fa Cai and happily tossing yee sang to welcome the Year of the Snake.
Will the organiser next Chinese New Year, have to get permission from Na’im and co before inviting the Sultan again? Or will His Royal Highness need approval to be feted by his non-Muslim subjects?
Muslim MPs have always been attending to their multi-racial and multi-faith constituents. Will the likes of Fahmi Fadzil or Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, heck even Zahid Hamidi and Anwar Ibrahim be required to obtain Na’im’s approval or consult before they attend a Deepavali open house or a Buddhist funeral?
Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan raised the alarm arguing that the guidelines would negatively impact Muslim elected representatives, such as himself.
“Muslim elected representatives who attend these events are obviously not there for worship, but to carry out our duties and responsibilities to our constituents,” he said.
Here’s another one: The events cannot be close to mosques, suraus, or Muslim cemeteries. Pity the furniture outlet at Oval Damansara. No way can he have a lion dance to bring in the “ong” as Oval shares a border with the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery.
I was at a Chinese New Year luncheon recently, where a Sultan was wishing everyone a Gong Xi Fa Cai and happily tossing yee sang to welcome the Year of the Snake.
Will the organiser next Chinese New Year, have to get permission from Na’im and co before inviting the Sultan again? Or will His Royal Highness need approval to be feted by his non-Muslim subjects?
Muslim MPs have always been attending to their multi-racial and multi-faith constituents. Will the likes of Fahmi Fadzil or Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, heck even Zahid Hamidi and Anwar Ibrahim be required to obtain Na’im’s approval or consult before they attend a Deepavali open house or a Buddhist funeral?
Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan raised the alarm arguing that the guidelines would negatively impact Muslim elected representatives, such as himself.
“Muslim elected representatives who attend these events are obviously not there for worship, but to carry out our duties and responsibilities to our constituents,” he said.
Here’s another one: The events cannot be close to mosques, suraus, or Muslim cemeteries. Pity the furniture outlet at Oval Damansara. No way can he have a lion dance to bring in the “ong” as Oval shares a border with the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (middle), Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo attend tbe Madani Deepavali open house in Kuala Lumpur in 2024. – Bernama file pic, February 6, 2025
Now for my open house this Christmas, do I need to send a list of my Muslim guests to Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor? What if there is a last-minute Muslim visitor who drops by unannounced? Do I have to turn him or her out of my house as he/she is not approved?
Can the likes of MIC deputy president M.Saravanan and deputy minister R. Ramanan continue to hold their Deepavali Open House or is this unique facet of Malaysian life now only limited to non-Muslims?
So, contrary to some beliefs, non-Muslims just want to just stay in their lane. However, if the likes of Na’im and others keep coming up with ways to frustrate innocent interaction between the faiths then they will succeed in further dividing this country across ethnic and religious lines. – February 6, 2025.
Now for my open house this Christmas, do I need to send a list of my Muslim guests to Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor? What if there is a last-minute Muslim visitor who drops by unannounced? Do I have to turn him or her out of my house as he/she is not approved?
Can the likes of MIC deputy president M.Saravanan and deputy minister R. Ramanan continue to hold their Deepavali Open House or is this unique facet of Malaysian life now only limited to non-Muslims?
So, contrary to some beliefs, non-Muslims just want to just stay in their lane. However, if the likes of Na’im and others keep coming up with ways to frustrate innocent interaction between the faiths then they will succeed in further dividing this country across ethnic and religious lines. – February 6, 2025.
Terence Fernandez is Group Editor in Chief of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop.my. A veteran journalist of 30 years, he is the recipient of several awards including the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) and the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI).
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