Temple group distances itself from ‘unity banquet’

 The Thean Hock Keong temple association says neither it nor a cultural and arts group under it will be involved in the activity purportedly planned for this Saturday.

The Penang Islamic religious affairs department previously prohibited an association representing the Thean Hock Keong temple from hosting a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on grounds that the celebration is a Muslim religious activity.

PETALING JAYA:

 A Chinese temple association has distanced itself, as well as a cultural and arts association under it, from a “unity banquet” allegedly planned for this Saturday to replace the temple’s cancelled Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house, which was barred by the Penang Islamic religious affairs department (JHEAIPP).

The Thean Hock Keong temple association said contrary to a claim by Penang deputy chief minister I Mohamad Abdul Hamid, the Zhao Zi Long Cultural and Arts Association of Penang – an entity under the temple association – would not be co-organising the event reportedly scheduled at Dewan Panorama Bagan Ajam in Butterworth.

Thean Hock Keong said it had sent an official letter on April 5 to JHEAIPP informing the department that it would respect the decision to cancel the open house.

“To avoid any public confusion, the Zhao Zi Long and Thean Hock Keong associations emphasise that they are not involved in the activity purportedly planned for 8pm at Dewan Panorama on April 11,” it said in a statement.

Yesterday, Mohamad said Zhao Zi Long would co-organise the unity banquet with residents of Bagan Ajam.

The department had previously prohibited the Thean Hock Keong temple association from hosting the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house on grounds that the celebration was a Muslim religious activity.

The department’s director, Marzuki Hassan, said in a March 31 letter that all Islamic activities, including celebrations related to Hari Raya Aidilfitri, required permission from the Penang Islamic religious council.

However, the association explained in its April 5 letter that the open house aimed to “foster unity, strengthen ties of friendship, and reinforce harmony in the local community”.

Thean Hock Keong also noted the remarks of Penang mufti Sukki Othman, who said a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house held by a Chinese temple could confuse the public and inflame sensitivities.

“As such, we are concerned that having Zhao Zi Long organise (the unity banquet) could cause similar confusion,” it said.

Thean Hock Keong also addressed the official poster for the scrapped open house, explaining that the poster clearly stated the event would take place in front of the temple, not inside it.

“We expressed this clearly and accurately. As such, we do not understand why the deputy chief minister said there was an issue with the poster.

“Thean Hock Keong once again wishes to emphasise our hope that JHEAIPP and the deputy chief minister will stop making statements that cause public confusion. We stress that our ultimate goal was to strengthen bonds of friendship,” it said.

Thean Hock Keong also said it did not understand the decision to prohibit the open house, claiming that a Buddhist association in Johor was able to organise a similar event last month without issue. - FMT