Ulamas’ fatwa on religious celebrations a threat to nation-building in Malaysia
Press Statement by DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Tanjong Chow Kon Yeow on Wednesday, 14 June 2006 in Penang.
Ulamas’ fatwa on religious festivals a threat to nation-building process and attack very fabric of multi-religious Malaysia
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The Star and Utusan Malaysia today carried a Bernama report that ulamas wanted kongsi raya celebrations and open houses reviewed to ensure that they do not contradict Islamic laws.
Ulama Conference 2006 working committee chairman Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria said this was necessary because the National Fatwa Committee had decided that celebrating the festivals of other religions could lead to blasphemy.
The DAP is concerned that the march towards Islamisation and Islamic State is gaining greater momentum now and it pose a great challenge to the very fabric of the multi-religious and multi-ethnic characteristics of Malaysia.
The National Fatwa Committee had decided that it was wrong and blasphemy to celebrate the festivals of other religions and it would be a problem in Malaysia as we have a multi diversified society.
Would the National Fatwa Committee even regard that public holidays declared by the government to celebrate Chinese New Year, Thaipusam, Deepavali, Christmas, God Friday, Hari Gawai , Hari Keamatan and other non-Islamic holy days as blasphemy?
If so, would they recommend that the government cancels all these public holidays?
The kongsi raya, open houses and public holidays on religious holy days are intrinsic to the multi-religious Malaysia. Over the past century, it had helped cement and strengthen understanding, tolerance and goodwill among the various ethnic and religious groups.
Taking it away tantamount to destroying the very traditions that help bind all the citizens from diverse background to nationhood.
It is hard to believe that the National Fatwa Committee has reached such a decision and I hope the government would consider the implication of the fatwa on nation-building process and national unity in Malaysia.
I call on the Prime Minister to view this fatwa from the wider perspective as a leader of all the citizens in this country.
Mr. Chow,
I feel the non-Muslims have nothing to worry about. The fatwa merely says it is blasphemy if a Muslim celebrates a festival of the non-Muslims. Islam itself recognises that other religions do exist, and that the Muslims do NOT shun the worshippers of other religions, or better put, the “non-believers”. The non-Muslims do not need to worry as the fatwa committee is only against the Muslims taking part in celebrating other religions’ festivals. Public Holiday for non-Islamic celebrations must continue to be given because the government recognises the existence of non-Muslims, so does Islam. However, Islam forbids its believers being involved in any rituals in celebration of those non-Islamic festivals. As long as a Muslim stays away from celebrating the event, no issue arises.
I do not believe the government would cancel all non-Islamic public holidays, because it has nothing to do with the Muslims’ faith. As long as a Muslim stays home during Christmas, or Deepavali and do not participate in any celebration which is outwardly glorifying the other religions, he will not be committing blasphemy. Blasphemy is when a Muslim joins in say, a Thaipusam procession, a Christmas cantata, or (I might be wrong) join in a Christmas-eve party, or maybe (if it is interpreted as “celebrating”) attending an open house. As far as Islam is concerned, visiting a non-Muslim person only strengthens friendship and spreads harmony.
Really, I do not think the non-Muslims have anything to fear about this. In fact, I think the fatwa is only targetted at the Muslims, reminding them of the boundaries when acknowledging other religions’ festivals. A Muslim is encouraged to visit non-Muslims who are sick, just passed away, or if the opportunity to share the religion arises. He (the Muslim) however, must never let the visit be misconstrued as partaking in the religion’s celebration. I think that applies to Christianity as well - a Christian I know quite a while ago was ticked off by his fellow Christian relatives because he participated in a Taoist funeral (his grandmother’s).
No religion allows their worshippers celebrate or take part in the rituals of another. Kongsi-raya is a concept merely to draw mileage on commercial ventures. Do we need to “kongsi-raya”? “Your religion is your religion, My religion is my religion”. While it is harmless to refer to it as kongsi-raya, in a spritual manner, that alone may breed a wrong image of the two (individualistic) celebrations. They should remain individualistic. Kongsi-raya may give the impression that a believer is celebrating BOTH festivals… How is that possible? Wallahu’allam…
Comment by pemerhati_msia — Wednesday, 14-06-2006 @ 20: 26.06
Logically, visiting my friends during hari raya, eat their cakes, play with their children, do not make me a muslim or insult my religion.
Similarly, when my muslim friend drop by my house during chinese new year and have a glass of bottled water, does not threaten their fatih in their religion.
If they are faithful enough in Islam, they have nothing to fear.
I wonder if the Fatwa council have considered the follwoing questions which are more pertinent and constructive:
1) how would they assist/educate muslim to cope with advances in technology, globalisation etc
2) the role of muslims innational unity and racial harmony.
If the Fatwa council discourages inter-racial mingling, the polarised races in Malaysia will be further polarised.
If celebrating a non-muslim festival erode their faith, what about:
1) muslim working in hotels and resorts where foreigner tourists are drinking liquor and in swim wear?
2) muslims working in maybank, bank bumiputra, RHB that charges and pay interest
3) female muslim atheletes that represent malaysia abroad and domestic
I think we malaysians are intelligent enough
Comment by lee wee tak — Thursday, 15-06-2006 @ 16: 13.13
I have read pemerhati msia posting and realised how far we have gone in terms of nation building. Back in school in the sixties, I never saw my friends through the prism of race or religion but really good (or bad) friends. I even had a band which included two Malay classmates and we would play at Chinese weddings (where liquor was served) and Malay weddings. There were a few years in the late sixties when I noticed five Malay boys who joined their Catholic friends attending midnight masses in our church. Members of the congregation were initially bewildered by their boisterous participation in singing the carols and for a few years in a row, they were such welcomed guests. Did these boys change their religion? I believe they are as devout Muslims now as they were then.
When my friends (Chinese, Indians, Eurasians and Malays) visited me at my home and it so happened that my mother was brewing some Chinese herbs, she would make sure that everyone gets a bowl of it as she would say it was good for our health. Today, I have Malay friends who come to visit me but will not touch even a glass of water offered to them, so much so, I have ceased such invitations.
Really, how time have changed.
Comment by Billy — Thursday, 15-06-2006 @ 17: 55.03
Billy, I hear you man.You don’t have to go so far- even 15 years ago and now, the difference can be felt.Its disturbing to think about sometimes.
Comment by Emmanuel — Wednesday, 28-06-2006 @ 18: 23.31