Interfaith guidelines: Hamzah urges consultation with stakeholders

Summary

• Hamzah Zainudin wants the government to discuss with relevant stakeholders before introducing new interfaith guidelines.

• This is to prevent bigger problems in the future and ensure uniformity across all states, the opposition leader says.

• The matter should also be presented to the Conference of Rulers if it needs to be tabled in Parliament, the Bersatu deputy chief adds.

Opposition Leader Hamzah Zainudin has called on the government to consult stakeholders before introducing new guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events.

The Bersatu deputy president said such discussions are necessary to prevent bigger issues from arising in the future.

“If the ministry has any proposals, they should first be discussed with all relevant stakeholders.

“When it comes to Islamic matters, the views of state governments must also be taken into account, and discussions should be held with them. Only then should the matter be brought to the highest level to ensure uniformity.

“Otherwise, one state might do things differently from another, which could lead to major problems,” he told a press conference in Parliament today.

Inform Conference of Rulers

According to Hamzah, the proposal should also be presented to the Conference of Rulers.

“The Conference of Rulers must first be informed before it is tabled in Parliament, if that’s what will be done,” he added.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Na’im Mokhtar announced in a written reply that the government would introduce new guidelines for events involving Muslims at other places of worship.

They include requiring approval from religious authorities if an event involves Muslims and ensuring that it does not contain elements that could offend Muslim sensitivities.

Such elements include religious speeches and songs, religious pamphlets, performances or speeches that insult Islam, events held during Muslim prayer times, locations near surau, mosques, Islamic cemeteries, or wakaf lands, as well as venues displaying non-Muslim religious symbols.

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