Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said it was up to state governments to decide whether to allow or disallow the organising of the ‘Jom Ziarah Gereja’ programme.
The minister said he would respect the stand taken by state governments on this matter.
“There is a disagreement, a difference of opinion. I respect the decision at the state level.
“There are states that prohibit the programme and there are those which allow it,” Na’im (above) was quoted as saying by Bernama.
His comment came after this weekend’s scheduled programmes “Jom Ziarah Gereja” and “Jom Ziarah Kuil Hindu” on March 18 and March 19 were cancelled.
Impact Malaysia, an agency under the purview of the Youth and Sports Ministry, was meant to bring youth to visit the Church of Our Lady Lourdes in Klang and Shree Lakshmi Narayan temple in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.
However, the events were cancelled following a directive from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to hand over the programme to be implemented by the National Unity Ministry.
This was confirmed by Impact Malaysia chief executive officer Ahmed Faris Amir.
Posters promoting the previous programmes, as well as this weekend’s event, have been removed from Impact Malaysia’s social media.
It remains unclear what the National Unity Ministry's plans are for the “Jom Ziarah” programme if any. Its minister, Aaron Ago Dagang, declined to comment when contacted by Malaysiakini yesterday.
The “Jom Ziarah” programmes previously brought eight Chinese and Indian youths to the Federal Territory Mosque on March 4 and three Chinese youths to the Gurdwara Sahib in Shah Alam on March 11.
The Penang Islamic Religious Council said any programmes that invite Muslims to visit non-Muslim houses of worship should be referred to the council.
Selangor Religious Affairs exco Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni, on the other hand, said state law has barred Muslims from entering non-Muslim houses of worship.
The public scrutiny of the “Jom Ziarah” programmes began when Bersatu politician Badrul Hisham Shaharin accused Yeoh of using the “Jom Ziarah” programme as part of a “Christian evangelist” agenda.
The claim was denied by Impact Malaysia and Yeoh, who stated that Muslim youth were not involved in any visits to non-Muslim houses of worship. - Mkini
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