A Malaysian Christmas wish

 

From Reverend Philip Lok

During a recent visit to Kota Kinabalu, I saw a gigantic Christmas billboard standing proudly outside a Catholic church. What amazed me was that the signboard declared to all passers-by the old yet bold message: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.”

I was awed because, in my lifetime as a Christian living in Peninsular Malaysia, I have not witnessed public signage of that scale with such a bold and true Christmas message.

A couple of evenings later, I was invited to take part in the opening ceremony of the Kota Kinabalu Christmas celebrations, organised by the Sabah Council of Churches, with the theme “Love in Action”.

As in the previous 18 years, Sabahan Christians from different denominations came together to mark the birth of Jesus Christ with many activities that were accessible to all members of the public, irrespective of their race and religion.

This year’s celebrations, fully supported by the state government, have truly become a community event aimed at promoting the spirit of peace, acceptance, and harmony.

Just as I stood in the shadows of that colossal billboard in front of the Catholic church two days earlier, and as I was overwhelmed by the light show and fireworks display that evening at Padang Merdeka, I left with the same mixed feelings.

First, there was admiration that Christians in Sabah (and Sarawak, too) could celebrate Christmas in such an open and public manner, not bound by any unreasonable restrictions imposed by the authorities.

My heart was filled with gratitude that my sisters and brothers in East Malaysia have that unconditional freedom to honour Christ’s birth. But that sense of joy was also tainted with a degree of regret – that Christians in West Malaysia are not able to rejoice in such a public way.

After my Sabah experience, there was a quiet longing that, one day, Christians in the peninsula would be able to celebrate the birth of the Bethlehem Child in a similar way.

This longing is born out of the fact that voices were (probably, still are) calling for Christmas carols to be “cancelled” in public places like shopping malls, or state-sponsored events in West Malaysia.

In recent years, there has been a contention about whether it is permissible for Muslims to wish “Merry Christmas” to non-Muslims.

The government has continuously stressed the importance of national unity. This is evident through the various official themes, such as One Malaysia and Keluarga Malaysia.

This sloganeering is very much in line with what is enshrined in our country’s Federal Constitution, that every Malaysian, regardless of background, gender, race and religion, is guaranteed his or her fundamental rights.

Every Malaysian has the right to life, education, employment and healthcare, and is equal before the law, as per Article 8 of the Federal Constitution. The freedom of worship is also protected by Article 11(1), which guarantees the right to profess and practise one’s religion.

Of course, there is also Clause 4, which empowers the federal and state laws to control and restrict the spread of any religious teachings among those who practise Islam.

I believe that all patriotic Malaysian Christians understand this, and respect the responsibility that comes with religious freedom as provided by Article 11. Yet, the way Christmas is celebrated in Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak seems to suggest that there is none but two Malaysias.

My Christmas experience in Sabah is alien to many Christians residing in the peninsula. This difference between the East and West must push us to reflect further on how we could work together to build a more unified society amid our rich diversity.

Part of the reason why Christmas celebrations are more subdued in West Malaysia is that some non-Christians may find the Christmas message “offensive”.

As a Christian leader, I can fully understand that apprehension. However, is it possible for non-Christians in Malaysia not to view every Christmas celebration as a form of proselytisation activity?

Is it possible that Christmas festivities in Malaysia be seen as it is – a celebration of the Christian faith without the agenda to convert others?

Can Christians in West Malaysia join Christians in Sabah and Sarawak to celebrate Christmas freely and publicly, as a joyful declaration of our faith in the God whom we believe and love?

Music is a very vital part of Christmas. There are some Christmas songs that I loathe, while some I just adore. One of my favorites of the season is titled, “My Grown-up Christmas List,” and the refrain goes like this:

“No more lives torn apart, wars would never start, and time would heal our hearts;
And everyone would have a friend, and right would always win;
And love would never end. This is my grown-up Christmas list.”

And, for this year’s Christmas, I would like to add another wish to my personal “grown-up” Christmas list.

It is a Malaysian Christmas wish – that all Malaysian Christians, irrespective of whether they are Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans, Rungus or Dusuns, or whether they are in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Sibu, Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, or even Kota Bharu, would have the same freedom to publicly celebrate our faith and affirm the joyful message of Christmas.

If this wish comes true, I believe it will go a long way to telling the world that we are one nation, where all the citizens live in peace and unity, and enjoy the same fundamental freedoms.

Merry Christmas and Selamat Tahun Baru 2025 to all my fellow Malaysians. - FMT

Reverend Philip Lok is the general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.