Police urged to respect religious practices of Christian churches on carolling
Press Statement by Teresa Kok, Selangor Senior State Exco and
DAP National Organising Secretary, Shah Alam – 9 December 2011.
The Malaysian Royal Police must not use politically motivated manoeuvres to hinder long-held customs, such as the tradition of Carolling among Christians, which has been an exercise of goodwill and peace for decades in our country during the joyous season of Christmas. While the requirement of providing detailed info of carolling activities and participants, and obtaining a police permit is tedious in itself, Christian churches and groups have adhered to this rule since the late 80’s and have gone about spreading joy and peace to members’ homes without disturbing public order. Neither have they infringed on religious freedoms of others in Malaysia. The supposed current need for further information and restrictions on carollers, such as the requirement to provide the police with details of names and contacts of home owners whom the Churches’ carolling groups will visit, is simply unnecessary and an abuse of power by the authorities.
The case of two Churches in Klang, who apparently received a memo from the district police with requests for such home-owners’ information, is rather perplexing and indicates an attempt to clampdown and infringe of religious freedoms. I urge Home Minister Hishamuddin to clarify why the supposed need for the Churches to inform Bukit Aman and the National Security Council of this insignificant information.[1] This should not be practised nor tolerated by the government of Malaysia and further clarification must be delivered by the authorities should this episode be merely an act of overzealous police personnel.
At the advent of such tactics to stifle freedom of expression and public assemblies, in the form of the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 which was bulldozed in parliament by the government recently, such attempts to regulate religious worship of holy occasions, such as Christmas and its traditions, is a worrying sign of what lays ahead in the country should the BN government insist on the continued existence of its archaic and draconian laws. I remind the government that, in July this year, it had forged diplomatic ties with the Vatican and thus it needs to respect the relationship and commitments it has subscribed to with Catholics and all Christian denominations in Malaysia.
The message brought by carollers is merely one of hope and solidarity to its communities in this season of love and peace. Lets not obstruct and politicise such practices.
– TERESA KOK –
[1] http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tis-the-season-to-be-jolly-with-a-police-permit/)
Perhaps in the past, this WASN’T a big problem. However in recent times, churches had gone over the limit by expanding their religious network. The recent DUMC saga is one good example to show churches had abuse their freedom & rights by asking/inviting Muslims to convert into Christians knowing very well this would create unnecessary problems if being exposed.
Why did churches create such an uncalled-for problem by trying to recruit Muslims into their brotherhood-sisterhood such as the DUMC saga??? Is it because they are running out of people to recruit/convert into Christianity??? What happened in the DUMC saga made Christianity look so way-sided making it sound as if it’s operating like a triad network recruiting members to enlarge their influences & power. Come on!!! will someone stop all these ‘Hung Men’ & ‘Wah Kee’ kinda modus operandi???
Perhaps this is why the police are enforcing strict supervision towards Christmas caroling. They are just doing their part to ensure religion conflicts doesn’t happen. Such a move taken by the police is good for everybody because Malaysia are made up of a variety of religions.
You respect my religion & I respect your religion. This should be the way. Sadly, some irresponsible quarters are NOT doing that. I don’t need to highlight who this quarter I’m referring to as the DUMC saga is self explanatory.
Hi TOKZ, i think your comment has some factual errors. The dinner held at DUMC when Jais raided the premises was organised by Komuniti Harapan, an NGO, not by DUMC. That was a fund raising dinner, most of the participants are non-Muslims, only a few Malays/Muslims who have been benefited by Komuniti Harapan programme were present there.
Church is a religious worship place where it is open for all. A Muslim enters into a church premises doesn’t mean that he/she has converted to Christianity. Freedom of movement and freedom of religion are guaranteed under our Federal Constitution and Universal Human Rights Charter. Today, 10th December, is Human Rights Day. Lets uphold human rights together in our land.
Teresa,this TOKZ is a real pain in the ass.Next time he sent in his comments stick it into his you know what.That is what blogger Zorro always did to him.He belongs to the NFC herd of lembus.A real lembu of a lembu.He has dissapeared and gone into hibernation for sometime and suddenly appeared here,on your blog.
maybe to some, “silent night” means silent?