Cultural celebrations should be rejoiced by all Malaysians, Cabinet decides

PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet has decided that cultural celebrations should be rejoiced by all Malaysians, says P. Waytha Moorthy (pic).

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for National Unity and Social Wellbeing said the Cabinet had unanimously agreed on the decision after concerns were raised regarding the participation of Muslims in celebrating well-known cultural celebrations of non-Muslims.

"The Cabinet unanimously agreed that all cultural-based celebrations should be observed and participated by Malaysians as one united society.

"Malaysians are well known for our rich and diverse culture so in the spirit of the Rukun Negara and true unity, we should all commemorate these celebrations without prejudice or malice", he said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 15).

He added that the preamble of the Rukun Negara outlines that Malaysia guarantees a liberal approach towards tradition and the enrichment of the nation's vast cultural variety.

Waytha will also be organising a joint effort with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Religious Affairs, Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof, to meet various Muslim and non-Muslim religious bodies to provide a better understanding about the differences between traditional and religious celebrations.

"This effort is with the hopes that future explanation about such celebrations are more accurate and precise.

"I believe this would in turn generate greater understanding between Malaysians, in the name of unity," he said.