Unity under fire: how PAS’s divisive rhetoric undermines our diversity

 

From Syerleena Abdul Rashid

Recent allegations by PAS against DAP spotlight the party’s consistent attempts to create discord among Malaysians.

Politicising matters such as Christmas celebrations, while ignoring the reality of Malaysia’s diverse cultural tapestry only shows PAS’s true intent – which is to create disunity and fear in our nation.

The most recent one involves a Christmas celebration that was hosted by the housing and local government ministry and attended by the Muslim members of the ministry’s staff.

Minister Nga Kor Ming had also revealed that the Christmas carollers who performed at the event were Christians from Sarawak (many serving in the K9 firefighting unit).

This raises the question: does PAS have credible proof to support its allegations, or is it yet another attempt to polarise public opinion?

Every year, a controversy is ignited over simple holiday greetings like “Merry Christmas”, with factions like PAS portraying them as threats to religious principles.

This distortion undermines the true spirit of festive cheer and harmony.

Harmless tunes such as Jingle Bells and Deck the Halls celebrate the season’s joy — no different from saying “Gong Xi Fa Cai” during Chinese New Year or singing Rasa Sayang at other cultural festivities.

Nga’s clarification underscores a vital truth: Malaysia’s strength lies in its diversity.

Sarawak, with its longstanding tradition of interfaith harmony, exemplifies the unity that defines our nation. Rather than viewing the celebration of Christmas by Christian staff members as controversial, it should be seen as an affirmation of religious freedom — a cornerstone of our Constitution.

By labelling these songs as religious infringements, PAS demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of our multicultural heritage.

PAS continues to fan the flames of division. At a national level, such actions hinder our progress towards mutual understanding and coexistence.

Rather than bringing people together, PAS’s rhetoric fosters suspicion and alienates those who hold dear the values of tolerance and respect that are deeply woven into the Malaysian fabric.

This pattern of stoking religious discord is nothing new for PAS.

In 2021, certain PAS leaders objected to Christmas-themed decorations in public spaces, claiming these displays “threatened Islamic principles”.

In 2017, PAS members went further by alleging that wishing non-Muslims “Merry Christmas” compromised Islamic faith.

These baseless statements betray an ongoing effort to frame religious festivities as incompatible with Islam — a deeply flawed premise at odds with Malaysia’s inclusive identity.

Malaysians must challenge these divisive narratives, demand credible evidence for such accusations, and stand firm in our commitment to the principles of unity and harmony that have long guided our nation forward. - FMT

Syerleena Abdul Rashid is the MP for Bukit Bendera.

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