Press Statement
by Chow Kon Yeow

(Penang, Wednesday): The Star and Utusan Malaysia today carried a Bernama report that ulamas wanted kongsi raya celebrations and open houses reviewed to ensure that they do not contradict Islamic laws.

Ulama Conference 2006 working committee chairman Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria said this was necessary because the National Fatwa Committee had decided that celebrating the festivals of other religions could lead to blasphemy.

The DAP is concerned that the march towards Islamisation and Islamic State is gaining greater momentum now and it pose a great challenge to the very fabric of the multi-religious and multi-ethnic characteristics of Malaysia.

The National Fatwa Committee had decided that it was wrong and blasphemy to celebrate the festivals of other religions and it would be a problem in Malaysia as we have a multi diversified society.

Would the National Fatwa Committee even regard that public holidays declared by the government to celebrate Chinese New Year, Thaipusam, Deepavali, Christmas, God Friday, Hari Gawai , Hari Keamatan and other non-Islamic holy days as blasphemy?

If so, would they recommend that the government cancels all these public holidays?

The kongsi raya, open houses and public holidays on religious holy days are intrinsic to the multi-religious Malaysia. Over the past century, it had helped cement and strengthen understanding, tolerance and goodwill among the various ethnic and religious groups.

Taking it away tantamount to destroying the very traditions that help bind all the citizens from diverse background to nationhood.

It is hard to believe that the National Fatwa Committee has reached such a decision and I hope the government would consider the implication of the fatwa on nation-building process and national unity in Malaysia.

I call on the Prime Minister to view this fatwa from the wider perspective as a leader of all the citizens in this country.