PAS Youth prods govt to explain Christmas do at ministry

Summary

• PAS Youth demands an official explanation from the government over DAP minister Nga Kor Ming’s Christmas party held at the Housing and Local Governance Ministry, noting the lack of it from authorities including religious ones.

• PAS clarified that it is not against Christmas celebrations in general but merely wishes to know if such “religious rituals” are allowed on government premises.

• The youth wing also refused to explain attacks on Nga by the PAS info chief.

There has yet to be an official response to questions regarding the Housing and Local Governance Ministry’s Christmas party, PAS Youth said today.

PAS Youth information chief Nazir Helmi said the party’s protest against the Christmas party was their right as citizens and taxpayers, adding that the issue involves Muslims.

“Until today, no party has answered the question, including at the religious authority level, perhaps the mufti or even the religious affairs minister.

“There is no definitive answer, but the response we got was the reckless accusation made by DAP that we (PAS) are misguided, we bring heretical teachings.

“It is seen as if we do not want to allow the celebration of Christmas,” Nazir told a press conference at PAS headquarters.

‘Are celebrations allowed on govt premises?’

He questioned whether Christmas celebrations are allowed on government premises and clarified that PAS is not against Christmas celebrations in general.

“Our question is not about the Christmas celebration, but whether it is allowed at the government premises level to celebrate what we see as religious rituals.

“If we refer to the National Fatwa Council and the guidelines issued by the mufti of the Federal Territories, among the symbols that are not allowed are the singing itself and secondly, Christmas trees.

“Those are among the things that are stated to be prohibited on government premises,” he said.

PAS recently targeted Nga over a Christmas carol performance at the Housing and Local Government Ministry - where he is the minister - in Putrajaya.

A Dec 24 video on Nga’s Facebook account showed ministry staff singing the song “Jingle Bells” - a song about the joy of riding a sleigh in the snow - and the song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Nga defended the event as a reflection of mutual respect and harmony among ministry staff while advising PAS leaders to repent, stop sharing slander, and stop disrupting the harmony of a multiracial society.

‘No comment’ on grandfather attacks

During the press conference, PAS Youth deputy chief Mohd Hafez Sabri refused to comment on the party's info chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari's attacks on Nga.

When asked why PAS linked Nga’s grandfather to their criticism of the politician, Hafez said he only wanted to focus on issues involving Muslims in the country.

“That has nothing to do with today’s press conference,” he said briefly.

Yesterday, Fadhli dug up a post on X from 2019 in which Nga said that his grandfather, along with Yeoh’s grandfather, had fought to defend Malaysia during the Japanese occupation.

Fadhli asked which side Nga's grandfather fought for in a sarcastic post, mockingly asking the communications ministry to make a film on the man.

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