KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic) has emphasised that racial unity must be preserved after the proposed guidelines on Muslims attending non-Muslim events were unveiled recently.
Dr Wee, who is also MCA president, said the written reply by Religious Affairs Minister Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar over the proposed guidelines had raised different reactions from the public.
Citing the Chinese New Year celebration, Dr Wee (BN-Ayer Hitam) said there may be the perception that it is a religious festival when it is instead cultural.
He also referred to the Hokkien New Year where celebrants may have invited their Muslim friends.
“Prayer items may have also already been set in place. But we are not asking our Muslim guests to join in the prayers. How do we make a clear guideline on this?
“The most important thing is that racial harmony is preserved,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address in Parliament yesterday.
He also asked if non-Muslim funerals need approval from religious authorities if Muslims were attending.
“I have Muslim relatives. When they come, they embrace us right away as we are a family.
“Culture and religion ... how are we going to separate them?
“Both have different perspectives,” he said.
In a written Dewan Rakyat reply on Wednesday, Mohd Na’im said the proposed guidelines involved Muslims in events at non-Muslim houses of worship.
Under the proposed rules, there can be no speeches or songs with religious “propaganda” or performances that would insult Muslims, while the premises cannot display non-Muslim religious symbols.
Mohd Na’im also said organisers would need to obtain the permission of the relevant authorities, as well as the views of Islamic authorities, if their events involve Muslims.
Both Muslim and non-Muslim groups have since asked the ministry to reconsider the guidelines, saying it should be formulated inclusively.
Lawmakers have also said they will seek a meeting with the minister to provide feedback on the policy, which could impact the work of elected representatives.
