New guidelines for Muslims attending events at other houses of worship

Summary

• There will be a new guideline for events involving Muslims in celebrations and funerals in non-Muslim houses of worship.

• Organisers must obtain permission from authorities and views from Islamic authorities before the celebration if the event involves leaders or Muslims, says religious affairs minister Na'im Mokhtar.

The government is introducing new guidelines for events involving Muslims held in non-Muslim houses of worship such as holiday celebrations and funerals.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Na'im Mokhtar said the new guidelines require organisers to obtain permission from the authorities.

“(They) must (also) obtain the views of the Islamic religious authorities before a celebration is held if the invitation involves leaders or Muslims," he said yesterday in a written parliamentary response to Pokok Sena MP Ahmad Saad Yahaya.

Muslim sensitivities

Na’im (above) added that such events must not be coupled with activities that could offend the sensitivities of Muslims if they are to attend.

The minister listed examples of such offences including:

• Speeches or songs in the form of propaganda and the distribution of religious pamphlets,

• Performances or speeches that insult or mock Islamic religious beliefs,

• Carrying out the event during Muslim prayer times,

• Event location must not be close to a surau, mosque, Muslim cemetery or wakaf (endowment) land, and

• The premises do not contain non-Islamic religious symbols.

The guideline will be finalised by the muzakarah committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI) at the end of the month.

Ahmad had asked the Prime Minister's Department to share the details of guidelines on non-Islamic religious celebrations to prevent misunderstanding among Malaysians.

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Last Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim admonished those who made an issue about different ethnic groups in the country celebrating the festivals of other communities.

He said the country should serve as a model for strong racial unity.

Other guidelines

Na’im said apart from the upcoming new one, there are two existing guidelines, one issued by the muzakarah committee in 2005 and another from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) last year.

If there are contradictions between the three guidelines, the newer one must be used, he said in a separate parliamentary response to Permatang Pauh MP Fawwaz Jan.

Fawwaz had asked about the government's approach regarding the celebration of non-Muslim religious events at government premises that involve Muslims.

He also asked how this could be approached while maintaining religious unity.

In December, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming came under fire over a Christmas carolling session held at his ministry in Putrajaya.

PAS Youth vice-chief Hanif Jamaluddin took issue with a video of the carolling performance where several Muslims are seen among the audience.

He said Nga as the minister in charge should know that it is haram (forbidden) for Muslims to partake in festivities of other religions that go against the Islamic creed (akidah).

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