By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 24: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Youth has voiced support for the Association of Churches in Sarawak’s (ACS) decision to withdraw from a Christmas event organised by TVS, asserting that the organiser should respect the Christian way of celebrating Christmas when inviting churches to participate.
However, SUPP Youth chief Datuk Michael Tiang clarified that there would be no issue if the event aimed to be a commercial Christmas programme without religious bodies, such as churches.
“Christmas is a religious festival just like Deepavali or Wesak Day. Wesak Day is for Buddhists, and everyone can celebrate together. But when we celebrate Wesak Day, we must respect the Buddhist way of celebration.
“Likewise, Christmas is for Christians to celebrate, whereas many people across the globe celebrate in their own way.
“When we want to invite churches to come to a programme to celebrate Christmas Day together, we have to respect and honour their Christian way of celebration by singing Christian Christmas songs instead of commercial Christmas songs,” he said in a press conference at the Media Room of Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sarawak today.
Tiang was commenting about ACS’ letter to the Premier’s Department indicating their stand of withdrawing from participating in the ‘A Christmas Carol, Sarawak in Diversity’ programme, following the organiser’s alleged refusal to ACS’ request to change the carol song of ‘Jingle Bells Rock’ to ‘O Holy Night’.
According to ACS chairman Reverend Datuk Danald Jute, the rejection of their request was “due to the religious elements and also due to the protocol from LPF (Film Censorship Board) and MCMC (Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)”.
The event, organised by TVS and supported by the Unit of Other Religions (Unifor) of the Premier’s Department, is scheduled to be held on Dec 3 at Padang Merdeka and expected to be officiated by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Tiang also expressed shock and disappointment in learning that the authorities had allegedly rejected the request for carol song change due to religious elements, which he believed had never happened at the Federal or State level before.
“This is wrong and against Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, which grants freedom of religion, especially in Sarawak, a multicultural and multiracial society where we always respect and celebrate each other’s religious and cultural festivals.
“We welcome all, embrace all as part of Sarawak’s identity. We are proud of the diversity that defines Sarawak,” he said.
Regarding Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil’s clarification on social media that MCMC had no involvement in the issue, Tiang maintained that regardless, authorities at both the Federal and State levels should avoid adopting restrictive policies that impede individuals’ freedom to celebrate their festivals religiously.
He underscored the importance of honouring and respecting each other’s ways as a defining characteristic of Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole. — DayakDaily
