00:00A Gabungan Party Sarawak component has criticized the proposed guidelines for Muslims attending
00:06non-Muslim festivities, funerals or events held at non-Muslim places of worship.
00:12The Sarawak United People's Party said there was no official religion in the Bornean state
00:16and that its secularity must be taken into account for any religious guidelines in the
00:20state.
00:21SUPP Secretary General Sebastian Ting said, Sarawak had often been praised as a model
00:27of religious tolerance and harmony, where people of various faiths peacefully coexist
00:32and celebrate each other's festivals and traditions.
00:34He said SUPP is of the opinion that over-regulating religious practices and being overly cautious
00:41about religious sensitivities can create unnecessary division.
00:44Ting, a state deputy minister, said a better approach to the matter would be encouraging
00:49dialogue, mutual understanding and awareness on religious diversity among Malaysians while
00:54allowing them to freely maintain their traditions.
00:57The proposed guidelines, which stirred controversy, will be discussed by the cabinet today.
01:02Under the proposed rules, there can be no speeches or songs with religious propaganda
01:07or performances that would insult Muslims, while the premises cannot display the religious
01:11symbols of faiths other than Islam.
01:14Dhanush Rajareza, FMT News.
Comments