Is there a ban on 'non-Islamic elements' by authorities?

 

MP SPEAKS | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and three related ministers must clarify if there is a ban on “non-Islamic religious elements” on TV, movies and other broadcasting media imposed by the Film Censorship Board (LPF) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

If this is not true, new circulars should be made to such effect.

This is in regard to the now u-turned exclusion of the carol “O Holy Night” in the “A Christmas Carol, Sarawak in Diversity” event to be aired by TVS, the broadcaster owned by Sarawak, on Dec 3.

While the exclusion was swiftly reversed due to public outcry, and conveniently blamed on “miscommunication” in a joint statement by TVS and the state government’s Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), the earlier media report stated something else.

On Nov 24, FMT reported that the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) decided to boycott the event after “The organiser of the event, TVS, a state-owned television station, said it could not accede to the request as “O Holy Night” contained religious elements.

“It said this was in line with the protocols of LPF as well as the MCMC”.

As such, Anwar - together with Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail who is in charge of LPF, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil who oversees MCMC, and Sarawak-born National Unity Minister Aaron Ago Dagang must make an unequivocal statement on this matter, instead of letting TVS take the blame for this alleged “miscommunication”.

And if the presence of such a ban is unfortunately true, it can only mean there is an explicit attempt to deny non-Islamic faith their legitimate space in TV, movies and other broadcast media, to make such realm a monopoly of Islam.

Nevertheless, the Sarawak government should be commended for organising through TVS this event, which is to be attended by Premier Abang Johari Openg.

However, their noble effort has apparently been tarnished by Malayan exclusivism.

If true, such a ban has severe implications that harm Malaysia’s national interest as follows:

• It is tantamount to a malicious misinterpretation of Article 3 of the Federal Constitution - which makes Islam the religion of the Federation, a provision supported by all Malaysians, to the extent of undermining freedom of expression under Article 10(1)(c) and religious freedom under Article 11, thus sowing the seed of national disunity.

• It is an affront to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which underlined religious freedom as a fundamental characteristic of Malaysia. Religious freedom is upheld as part of the core identity of Sabah and Sarawak - not only by Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, animists, atheists and other non-Muslims, but also by Muslims who celebrate their families and social ties with other Borneo Malaysians.

  Such betrayal of MA63 would make a strong contrast between Malaysian Borneo to Indonesian Kalimantan, where all religions including indigenous religions are celebrated and protected.

  Further attempts to make Malaysia a country where only Islam can appear in the public sphere threaten the territorial integrity of Malaysia.

  Malaysian Borneans must not be pushed to find themselves sharing a closer vision of multicultural nationhood with their Indonesian cousins.

• It helps to fuel Islamophobia around the world by showcasing how Muslim majoritarianism limits the freedom of non-Muslims when the demographic and political strength of Muslims grows.

  This is most unfortunate as Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia - as part of the multiculturalist Nusantara civilisation - have long shown harmonious co-existence of Muslims and non-Muslims is both possible and cherished, much like the Medina city under the leadership of Prophet Mohamad in 622-632 AD (1-10 Hijrah).

  It goes without saying that this also draws cynicism and ridicule to Anwar’s noble ideal of Malaysia Madani, which is based on the Medina experience and is important for Malaysia to stay territorially united.

To put this matter to rest, LPF and MCMC must issue new circulars to deny the existence of such a ban from now on.

They must not become stumbling blocks to national unity and government policy. - Mkini

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WILFRED MADIUS TANGAU is the Tuaran MP, a former federal minister, and former deputy chief minister of Sabah. He is the honorary president of Upko, a party in Pakatan Harapan.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.