Celebration of Christmas an exercise of religious freedom

Right to freedom of religion is one of the corner stones of democracy. In Malaysia, religious freedom is spelt out in our Federal Constitution, and to be specific, Article 11 of the Federal Constitution, while Islam is the state and official religion of the federation (Article 3).

Article 11
(1) Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion and, subject
to Clause (4), to propagate it.

Article 3
(1) Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised
in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.

In every speech of our national leaders touching on issue of religion, none has failed to affirm that in Malaysia there is a freedom of religion. Christmas can be celebrated without fear or hindrance; Thaipusam is celebrated without any restriction and even participated by people of other faiths. The same goes with Wesak, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, etc. While that remains true, we have the following headline news found in Malaysiakini:

'Herald' sweats on status of annual permit
Hafiz Yatim | Dec 17, 08 6:00pm

Will the Dec 28 edition of the 'Herald-The Catholic Weekly' be the last? This is the question on the mind of Father Lawrence Andrew, the editor of the weekly newsletter.
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Yes, no doubt publication of newsletters, newspapers and magazines and other forms of publications are subject to annual permit issued by the Home Ministry, publication of "The Herald' is specifically on matters associated with the Christian faith and any other ancilliary thereto. Publication of newsletters in relation to each particular faith is part and parcel of religious freedom that Article 11 of the Federal Constitution is speaking about. That being the case with The Herald, how do we rate religious freedom and to a great extent, press freedom in Malaysia now?

Many months ago it was alleged that the Herald published an article not related to the Christian faith, which the Catholic Church disputed. The church argued that the issue raised in the article was part and parcel of the Catholic faith view's towards social and political justice. As a matter of fact social and political justice are always part and parcel of the church's struggle and inalienable from the true teaching of the church.

Be that as it may, the true meaning of religious freedom is not just about celebrating Christmas without fear, hindrance or restriction but must also necessarily include the freedom to publish the church's view in the form of newsletter, etc so long as it does not disparage others or seditious in nature. From my own observation, I am yet to find any church in Malaysia publishing anything in contempt of others or any other religion. If at all the Church has published anything that is closed to that category is the Church's view towards the use of Internal Security Act in arresting harmless Malaysians and some of those arrested in the past were church leaders who had nothing to do with politics or crimes. Therefore the stand of the church is consistent with its teaching in abhoring injustices. Arresting and detaining harmless Malaysians without trial indefinitely is certainly great injustice and inconsistent with the teaching of the church. The church in abhoring the use of ISA is quite understandable and cannot be construed as church's interference in politics.

Fellow Malaysians of Christian faith, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2009. I also hope that Malaysians of different faiths do share the mood of this joyful event in atmostphere of peace and harmony.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009