We, the members of G25, commend the Cabinet’s decision to dismiss the proposal to introduce guidelines by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, which sought to regulate how Muslims participate in non-Muslim festivities and funerals, including their presence at non-Muslim houses of worship, with the aim of fostering "social and cultural" harmony, and respecting religious sensitivities during cultural events. However, rather than fostering harmony, such directives risked doing the opposite by reinforcing segregation instead of encouraging mutual respect.
Harmony and respect are built on trust, understanding, and shared experiences, not on regulations that place unnecessary limitations on inter-faith and inter-cultural interactions. The withdrawal of these guidelines affirms that coexistence and diversity should be embraced rather than restricted. True social cohesion is nurtured through open engagement and dialogue, not prohibitions.
