©The Star (Used by permission)
by DESIREE TRESA GASPER
KUALA LUMPUR: Leaders and organisations have hit out at an Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) activist for suggesting it was improper for Muslims to wish Christians “Merry Christmas” or celebrate with them.
Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan took to Twitter, saying such a view has no place in moderate Malaysia.
“Isma is not my voice. They don’t represent me and many millions (of other) Muslim Malaysians,” he tweeted.
Abdul Rahman, the MP for Kota Belud, said in Sabah they were taught to be moderate and to respect family members and friends who are non–Muslim.
“Isma will never understand this. So butt out!” he exclaimed, saying he would not only wish a Merry Christmas to all, but would host a bigger Christmas celebration this year.
He added that he would invite Isma to the celebrations so that they could learn about it.
Parit Buntar MP Datuk Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said there should be no problem at all for Muslims to say “Merry Christmas” as it was a friendly gesture of wishing happiness for a friend.
He spontaneously sang “I wish you a Merry Christmas... and a Happy New Year” and laughed when contacted to ask his comments on the matter.
Mujahid said there were fatwa (edicts) about greetings, but general greetings were allowed.
“As long as you do not believe in the other person’s faith while you greet them, there should not be a problem at all,” he said, adding that placing greeting posters was also not an issue as long as there were no religious symbols on it.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) secretary–general Prematilaka KD Serisana said Isma’s stance was ridiculous.
“We do not want harmony and multiculturalism to just be a tourism pitch for Malaysia. The spirit has to exist in our core as well,” he said.
Prematilaka added that organisations such as Isma had their own agenda when making such insensitive comments.
“There is no harm in a greeting and joining in a celebration and I believe most Malaysians are of the same opinion,” he said.
It was reported that Isma activist Abu Ameen had said the Malays should not wish Christians “Merry Christmas” or celebrate with them.
He later clarified that there was a school of thought that felt it was alright for Muslims to make the greetings, but he would go along the traditional approach of not wishing Christians a Merry Christmas although he respected their rights.