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Home Minister clears air over X’mas carolling

Monday, 12 December 2011 09:09am

©The Star (Used by permission)
by YUEN MEIKENG

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need for Christmas carollers to apply for a police permit but they can voluntarily notify the nearest police station of their activities, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said.

He said Bukit Aman had confirmed that there was no need to get a police permit for Christmas carolling.

“(Christmas carollers) can notify the nearest police station if they are concerned,” he stated in a tweet yesterday.

Hishammuddin said he had asked Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to clarify the matter to avoid any confusion among the people.

It was reported yesterday that the Johor police wanted those organising Christmas carolling to apply for permits two weeks before their programme.

Two Catholic churches in Selangor were also reportedly asked to provide the police with contact details of the homeowners they planned to visit.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong had said that there was no such need, saying more freedom was given to the people in the spirit of the recently passed Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011.

Meanwhile, Selangor CPO Deputy Comm Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said no permits were needed for religious gatherings as they were not political in nature.

“However, organisers can seek police assistance if their gathering involves a large number of people and can cause traffic congestion,” he said.

On the police asking churches to provide extra details on their carolling activities, DCP Tun Hisan said as far as he knew, there was no such request.

Rev Father Lawrence Andrew, editor of Catholic weekly The Herald, said he was happy and thankful that Hishammuddin had cleared the air over the issue.

“Before this, the need to apply for permits varied from place to place. So it is good that the matter has been clarified.

“We have not caused trouble for anyone and will continue to be law-abiding citizens,” he said.

Council of Churches Malaysia secretary-general Rev Dr Herman Shastri said Hishammuddin's announcement has ceased the need for Christmas carollers to apply for permits “once and for all”.

“It is good that the Government appreciates the spirit of Christmas and is enabling us to share it during the celebration,” he said.

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