Christmas Eve is a national event, with people of different races and religions greeting each other in Malaysia

By Kazi Mahmood, IOL Southeast Asia correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, December 29 (IslamOnline.net) – Father Christmas brings to the predominantly-Muslim Malaysia much more cohesion, open houses can tell.

As the approach of the New Year has begun, open house invitations are made for people of different communities to visit their neighbors in the country, a senior official said Sunday, December 28.

“The holding of the national level Kongsi Raya (Eid el Fitr)-Christmas open house would help in speeding up the creation of a united Malaysian society,” Chief Minister Musa Aman was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying.

Aman is the Chief Minister of the state of Sabah, which is one of the three states on Borneo Island belonging to Malaysia and where non-Muslims form a majority.

He said the recognition given by the Federal Government for the celebrations of various races, cultural and religious festivals in the country would also help foster greater national unity among all groups.

The Malaysian officials said the move helps put up a brave and valiant face against criticisms that the country disregard the rights of non-Muslims.

Christmas Eve is a national event, with people of different races and religions greeting each other and joining together in open houses or in public places to show their unity.

Speaking at the Christmas Open House Saturday, Aman said that visitors to the open house could see for themselves the unity and harmony among the people despite their differences in culture and religion.

He said such celebrations proved wrong the accusations by foreign powers that Malaysia was among countries that did not practice religious freedom.

The official added that Sabah is a unique state with its more than 30 different ethnic groups that practised diverse cultural and religious beliefs.

'Blessed Country'

Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that his country, under a constitutional monarchy, is a blessed country where every community enjoys the freedom to practice its religious beliefs.

Badawi said that the land (Malaysia) was blessed by God without any major natural catastrophes affecting the people, Bernama reported.

The Prime Minister spoke on the cultural and religious harmony which provided peace and security for Malaysians.

“We do not have disasters like earthquakes, typhoons and serious floods that brought untold sufferings to the people. Don’t create man-made disasters as we all want peace and harmony.”

When Abdullah concluded his brief speech, the King of Malaysia and other leaders went on stage and a record-setting 27.85m Christmas tree was lit up, setting off an extravaganza of culture, song and joy of Christmas and New Year.

Abdullah emphasized on the need to preserve the existing harmony, peace and security among all communities.

As an immediate measure to help the earthquake-stricken victims of Iran, he said the government was sending a humanitarian SMART team to help the thousands of victims and has allocated US$500,000 as financial aid.

Across the country, there were wishes of hope and harmony exchanged by young and old altogether.

Harmony and Peace

Many Malaysians are of the opinion that after a year filled with war and terrorism, most people wished for harmony and peace in the New Year 2004.

“Malaysians are generally tolerant, which is one aspect of life in the South East Asian region and the New Year approaching, many people find it necessary to show they care,” said a mother of three young children in Kuala Lumpur.

She said that she wanted Malaysia to be safe for ever and prayed that there would be no attacks or natural disasters in her country.