When did Malaysia Boleh become Di Malaysia Tak Boleh?
Malaysia needs to have a serious conversation with itself, and soon.
Scott Ng, Free Malaysia Today
Another day, another controversy for the headlines. That seems like the order of the day to keep our attention distracted from the real issues, like the TPPA’s data exclusivity clauses for medicine, the rising cost of living, the alarming Islamic State warnings being issued weekly. There seems like almost too much bad news out there for us to digest.
So right on time, we get treated to the news that Halloween is now haram, as declared by the National Fatwa Council.
Halloween, at its roots, could be considered haram as it traces back to the Celtic New Year, a time that the Druids believed the souls of the dead roamed the land of the living. And dressing up in costumes and giving out candy are practices that have their roots in the traditions and rituals of the Celtic Druids. So, yes, seen as a religious observance of another faith, Halloween is haram.
But the Halloween of today is no longer a religious observance; nor does it invite the worship of pagan or foreign gods. If anything, just like Christmas, it has become commercialized, a day for the beleaguered costume industry to sell something other than clown outfits and for children and young people to indulge in fancy dress, to laugh at or admire each other’s costumes. It is, in general, an occasion for having a good time.
If anything, Halloween has become a Western cultural celebration, devoid of religious nuance and observance, which, as a cynic may observe, is true about most celebrations in a capitalistic society.
It has been only a few weeks since the furore over Oktoberfest came and went, with much fuss and ado. And now we are treated – or tricked, if you will – to the cancellation of several small Halloween events around town, with permissions suddenly denied the organizers. No explanation given.
But really, the question we have to be asking is where does this stop? Where does the line get drawn between which festivals or celebrations we are allowed to partake in and those we are not allowed to? What festivals or celebrations are we allowed to indulge in publicly and when must we withdraw to the safety of our own homes to celebrate for fear of offending the sensitivities of those who would find fault in everything?
When did Malaysia Boleh become Di Malaysia Tak Boleh?
The argument on whether Muslims can or cannot partake in the celebrations of other cultures is one that needs to be had among the learned so that they can come to a conclusion acceptable by all of the faith. However, there has to be a limit to how far authority stretches, as we have all been guaranteed the ability to freely explore the celebrations available in our country, native or imported.
