Ban Bon Odori, ban Oktoberfest. Ban Christmas next?

 

Let me begin by sharing what I’ve read somewhere with those holier-than-thou ministers and other bigots and extremists lurking in the corridors of power: “Malaysia is the only country in the world that has a budget allocation for race and religion and paid for by people of other races and religions”.

I would really want to know whether their conscience is pricked if they believe the above statement is valid and correct.

If not, I have nothing else to say except to accept that as something resembling a fact of life which I could do nothing about but to take it in, even if grudgingly.

We have heard and seen too much nonsense of the race and religious kind in the country. At times, I really feel like sending an urgent note to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and asking him what his much-touted ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ is really about when we, as a nation, allow race and religion to be so divisive. There is no Malaysian family, not even a semblance of it. Let’s stop living a lie!

It seems that every cultural or religious festival and celebration of the nons are heavily scrutinised, and very sadly and unfortunately, this unnecessary and silly action of the authorities concerned has turned into an annual affair.

Seriously, I have often wondered what the tasks of the Religious Affairs Minister Idris Ahmad are. Whenever the minister appeared in the public spotlight, he would surely touch on something negative. It would be about banning this and that or this and that are out of bounds for Muslims.

Religious Affairs Minister Idris Ahmad

Only last month, there was an attempt by the minister to clamp down on the Bon Odori festival that has been observed in Malaysia for decades.

Advising Muslims not to attend the festival, the minister claimed that the celebration was “influenced by elements of other religions”. His advice drew brickbats from many, including former diplomats.

The PAS minister only retreated when the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, instructed the Selangor Islamic religious department (Jais) to allow the festival to proceed and also instructed officials of Jais and the Shah Alam City Council to attend Bon Odori to “see for themselves” what takes place at the festival.

On July 16, some 50,000 visitors thronged the festival, a month after it came under scrutiny. So much for the minister’s silly views and objections.

What does this tell us? Do we have the wrong guy at the helm of the Religious Affairs Ministry? He gave all his reasons why Muslims are not permitted to attend the festival but relented when the sultan decreed otherwise.

Ramblings on alcohol

Next month is October, and as usual, the German beer festival, Oktoberfest, will be upon us.

And we have the minister in the news once again as a bearer of negativity and unhappy tidings.

A beer festival that is open to the public should not be allowed in Malaysia, Idris declared and asked all parties to respect the rules and laws of Malaysia that are based on Islam as the religion of the federation.

The minister also stated that public consumption of alcohol causes social problems such as domestic violence, traffic accidents, poverty, fights, health problems, and poor work performance.

“Alcohol is seen as being capable of affecting harmony, tranquillity, and public security,” Idris added.

I don’t know whether Idris is a smoker, but if he is, I have to ask him what he was smoking in his rambling over alcohol.

Here, I wish to inform the minister that drug abuse is just as bad as alcohol, if not worse. He should concentrate on how to stamp out drug abuse within his community as it is known that Malay youths are among the worst drug abusers in the country.

I would also ask the minister to help tackle the Mat Rempit menace as illegal motor racing now involves heavy betting in the public space. Isn’t gambling out of bounds for Muslims too, eh Idris?

Ban on Christmas?

So what’s next for the Religious Affairs Ministry? Christmas will be with us in a few months. Will there be a call to ban the Christmas celebrations? Will putting up Christmas trees and singing Christmas carols in public also be a “no-no”? Or will Muslims be told not to wish their Christian friends ‘Happy Christmas’?

I have not forgotten Zakir Naik, a known hate preacher, and his 2016 video where on his Twitter handle @DrZakirNaikFC, he wrote: “Wishing Merry Christmas to Christians is a worse evil, worse than fornication or murder. Please avoid it, my dear Muslims. It’s a big sin. Retweet and spread the message.

“I hope no Muslim wishes or updates any status on Christmas because celebrating Christmas is against Islam, against Allah, against Prophet Muhammad (SAW), so be aware of that very big sin.”

I believe Zakir Naik is still in Malaysia as he is said to have a Malaysian PR. Initially, he was very aggressive with his hate speeches and only stopped when advised by the government to do so, following public protests against his presence in Malaysia.

With PAS leaders in charge of religious affairs in the country, I am the least surprised if one of the party’s fanatics suddenly called for a ban on celebrating Christmas.

I am ready and prepared for that day to dawn. To these bigots and extremists, let me inform them that a village idiot from Borneo also knows his constitutional rights and will retaliate accordingly when necessary. - Mkini

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FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.

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