Malaysian Christians celebrate Christmas freely

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia Correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, December 21 (IslamOnline.net) - More Malaysians are coming forward to reject the U.S. report on religious freedom, in which the super power accuses the Malaysian government of restricting religious freedom and of favoring one religion to the detriment of other faiths while reports obtained by Islamonline.net in Kuala Lumpur indicates that the U.S. has indeed interfered in religious affairs in the Muslim country.

“Malaysia does not restrict religious freedom in the multiracial society,” a Hindu Temple president, S Anandakrishnan, said Saturday according to a report published by Bernama news agency Sunday, December 21.

In a statement faxed to Bernama, he said the recent report by the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor did not hold any truth as there was freedom to worship one's religion in Malaysia.

"We abhor such statement as it does not disclose the truth of religious freedom in Malaysia," he said, adding that as guaranteed and enshrined in the Federal Constitution, a citizen's right to practice his or her religion of choice had never been trampled on by the government.

He added that all religions in the country were given equal opportunity to propagate their teachings and the government readily assisted any religious sect to conduct its festivals in public or otherwise.

The U.S. report identified Malaysia as being among nine countries with laws or policies that favor certain religions and place others at a disadvantage.

Earlier Friday, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rejected the U.S. government report that included Malaysia among the countries that did not practice religious freedom.

"Ask the Christians and Buddhists. Don't ask me. If I talk, they (U.S. State Department) will not believe. Ask others and they will tell we practice religious freedom," he told reporters after opening Islamic Economic Development Week 2003.

The report also criticized the difficulty for a Muslim to change religions, which is an important issue in a largely Muslim society like Malaysia.

Abdullah said religious freedom had been proven in Malaysia, with multiracial Malaysians joining in the celebrations of each other's religious festivals and auspicious days.

"We celebrate Deepavali together. The government, said to be led by a Muslim, also celebrates Deepavali. Deepavali is a Hindu festival of lights.

"Soon, Christmas will be coming, we'll be hosting open houses, Chinese New Year....They have churches and temples here and there.

"All what they said (Department of State) is incorrect," he added.

In 2002, the U.S. Department of State criticized Malaysia for allowing a judge to refuse removing the word “Islam” from the identity card of an apostate. The judge ruled that ethnic Malay is defined by the federal Constitution as "a person who professes the religion of Islam.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Saturday gave an assurance that the Barisan Nasioanl (BN) government will continue to uphold the spirit of consensus which had been practiced all this while to ensure that the policies and programs adopted are for the benefit of all ethnic groups in the country.

Abdullah said the rights of the various races in the country as enshrined in the National Constitution was agreed upon through consensus and cooperation between the Malay, Chinese and Indian leaders during the country's independence and these rights would continue to be preserved by the BN government.

"The BN government truly represents all races...always practicing the spirit of consensus and ensuring that whatever is decided is for the good of the rakyat and for a better future," he said.

Abdullah also said that the plural society with its diverse racial backgrounds, languages, cultures and religions actually formed the country's strength.

"The diversity is an asset and strength. We want to utilize whatever is best that the three ethnic groups have that could become the thrust of development," he said.