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KUCHING, Feb 8: The Sarawak government sees no need for new guidelines on Muslim participation in non-Muslim celebrations and ceremonies, as Muslims are already well aware of the boundaries they must observe.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, expressed this view, noting that imposing such guidelines implies that Muslims in Malaysia lack the ability to judge what is acceptable or not.
“Guidelines like these are unnecessary, especially in Sarawak. Our multicultural and multi-religious community has no problem living harmoniously and celebrating each other’s festivals,” he said during an interview at the Borneo Cross Border Cycling Tour 2025 dinner on Feb 7.
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Abdul Karim also welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to overturn the proposed guidelines, calling it the right move for a country as diverse as Malaysia. “In Sarawak, we celebrate different religious festivals together without any issues. A person’s intention matters most when attending such events. There’s no need for special regulations,” he added.
The Federal Cabinet’s decision, announced on Feb 7, follows a similar statement by the Prime Minister. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim clarified that Muslims should already know their boundaries while engaging in non-Muslim celebrations. He emphasized that while it is essential for Muslims to protect their faith, fostering unity and respecting other religions in a multicultural society is equally important.
Anwar reiterated that Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, but the interests of other races and religions must be safeguarded to maintain peace and harmony in the country. The Cabinet’s decision will be presented to Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak, chairman of the National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI).