SABAHANS have long celebrated festivals together without needing official guidelines, and having one now would only create distrust, said Sabah Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He said such rules were unnecessary and could undermine the state’s long-standing harmony.
“For centuries, we have lived in harmony without the need for a set of guidelines dictating how we should interact. Our people understand and respect each other’s beliefs naturally,” said Masidi when met at the Sabah Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) Chinese New Year open house in Kota Kinabalu, on Sunday.
Masidi is Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary-general and Gagasan Rakyat deputy president.
He warned that enforcing a guideline on how Muslims attend non-Muslim events could create unnecessary suspicion between communities.
“The moment we introduce such a guideline, we are injecting a sense of distrust among our own people simply because of religious differences.”
Masidi backed the federal government’s decision to reject the proposal, saying Islam already provides clear guidance on social interactions.
“As Muslims, we are confident in our faith. We do not need guidance from humans when our religion has already outlined the boundaries of our interactions,” he said.
He also pointed out that many families in Sabah include both Muslims and non-Muslims, making such guidelines was not only impractical but also divisive.
“I myself have non-Muslim relatives. If I am invited to celebrate a festival with them, do I need to refer to a guideline? We have never had this problem before.”
Masidi also cited Sultan Selangor’s recent remarks that such rules were unnecessary and urged the focus to remain on strengthening interfaith ties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reversed a controversial proposal to issue guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim events, following strong criticism from various groups.
On February 7, after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Anwar stated that there was no need for such guidelines because Muslims should already be aware of the appropriate conduct in these situations.
The controversy began after Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, revealed in a written response to Parliament on February 4 that the government was finalising new guidelines for Muslims participating in events hosted by non-Muslims. This included gatherings at non-Muslim places of worship, such as weddings and funerals.
According to Na’im, event organizers would need to obtain permission from authorities and seek advice from Islamic officials if Muslims were to attend. Additionally, these events would need to avoid elements that could potentially offend Muslim sensibilities, such as religious speeches or songs, or any content mocking Islamic beliefs.
The proposal sparked public backlash, prompting Na’im to clarify on February 6 that the guidelines were still under review. – February 9, 2025
