THE organisers of the concert “A Christmas Carol, Sarawak in Diversity Programme” said they would include the song “O Holy Night” in it after the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) issued a statement to express its disappointment that the song in question would be excluded.
In a statement this evening, TV Sarawak and the Unit for Other Religions in the Premier’s Department (Unifor) said they had no intention of excluding the song from the event at Padang Merdeka, Kuching on December 3.
Earlier, the ACS said its members had withdrawn from the public concert in conjunction with the Christmas season.
Its chairman Datuk Donald Jute said in a statement that ACS was unhappy that the organisers chose “Jingle Bell Rock” as the theme song, which ACS felt had nothing to do with the birthday of Jesus Christ.
“We wanted ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ replaced with ‘O Holy Night’ which is more appropriate for a public event for Christmas which is to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ.
“‘Jingle Bell Rock’ has nothing to do with Jesus Christ,” he said.
Jute said the organisers had insisted on ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and not ‘O Holy Night’.
He also said the organisers had reasoned that they were following instructions from the Film Censorship Board and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
He urged organisers of such events to consult the ACS first to avoid future controversies.
Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg then reportedly instructed State Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki to meet with the organisers to address what caused the unhappiness of the ACS and save the Christmas programme that would showcase Sarawak’s religious diversity.
Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil clarified that the event by TV Sarawak was done without the involvement of the MCMC.
He also pointed out that the Film Censorship Board is under the Home Ministry. – The Vibes, November 24, 2023.
