List un-Islamic Malay culture, Jaik urged

Malay culture that do not run on Islamic teachings must be explained to Muslims

JITRA: The Kedah Islamic Religious Department (Jaik) has been asked to list Malay cultural traditions that are not in conflict with Islamic teachings for practice by Muslims in the state.

State Youth and Sports, Arts, Culture and Heritage, and Non-Governmental

Organisation Committee chairman, Aminuddin Omar today said this was necessary to avoid confusion among Muslims on which cultural traditions they could practise and which they should not.

Speaking to reporters after opening the Adat Festival 2013 at Wang Tepus, here, he said Malay customs and traditions like ‘berondoi’ and ‘cukur jambul’ were not in conflict with Islamic teachings as the people sang praises for Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

“Those traditions which are deemed as un-Islamic such as ‘lambung kain’, sprinkling ‘beras kunyit’ (yellow rice) and burning ‘kemenyan’ (incense) should be explained to Muslims by Jaik.

“Customs and traditions with Islamic religious tones or that promote unity among Muslims should continue to be practiced,” said Aminuddin, who is also Jitra assemblyman.

He said the state government would endeavour to preserve and promote cultural traditions that were not un-Islamic to be inherited by the young generation so that these would not become extinct.

Aminuddin said the state government with the cooperation of the National Culture and Arts Department were reviving these traditions by organising the Adat Festival.

“We believe that these traditions, if practiced, can help foster unity in the community as the younger generation today spend little time bonding with family, relatives and neighbours,” he said.

-Bernama