By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 8: There is no need for guidelines for Muslim participation in non-Muslim celebrations and ceremonies because Muslims should already be aware of the boundaries they need to follow without requiring new regulations.
According to the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, in a TVS report, the guidelines would indicate that Muslims in Malaysia do not know how to judge for themselves what can or cannot be done.
He added that the guidelines are not relevant in Sarawak as the region’s population, consisting of various races and religions, are able to live together in harmony while practising their respective beliefs.
“In Sarawak, we have no problem. We don’t have issues celebrating the festivals of different religions together.
“I am glad that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim overturned the proposed guidelines as I personally think it’s not needed,” he said when met at the Borneo Cross Border Cycling Tour 2025 dinner last night (Feb 7).
Abdul Karim also stressed that a person’s intention is the main factor in attending a religious ceremony, and there is no need for special guidelines.
According to Bernama, yesterday, the Federal Cabinet decided there is no need for guidelines for Muslim participation in non-Muslim events, with Anwar also saying that Muslims should already know their boundaries when attending non-Muslim events.
The prime minister said that although Muslims need to protect their faith, as there are rules that must not be violated, engaging with people of different religions in this multicultural and multi-religious society has never been an issue.
Anwar also explained that even though Malaysia is a country with Islam as its official religion, the interests of other races and religions in the country must also be safeguarded to maintain peace.
He said that the Cabinet’s decision would be presented to Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak, who is the chairman of the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI). — DayakDaily
