KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) hopes the government could also consider allowing Chinese community to conduct their annual religious rituals, with proper standard operating procedure (SOP), during the coming Chinese New Year period.
Among the key annual religious rituals held during the 15-days lunar New Year celebrations are, the Bai Tian Gong ritual to pay homage to the supreme Taoist deity, Jade Emperor, and the ritual of receiving the Chai Shen Yeh (God of Fortune).
Expressing this was its President, Tan Sri T.C Goh while welcoming the tweet by Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, on Saturday (Jan 23), that the National Security Council’s (NSC) has consented for the procession of Thaipusam chariot from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam in Jalan Tun HS Lee to the Batu Caves temple on Jan 27, and to return on Jan 29, a day after Thaipusam.
However, the procession must comply with conditions set by the NSC that only a maximum of 10 people would be allowed to accompany the chariot and the chariot would not be allowed to make any stops along the way, and no music would be allowed along the way.
In a statement issued today, Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) said the NSC’s decision was a liberal and thoughtful one, well in line with the religious practices of Malaysians of different religious backgrounds.
“It is indeed commendable for the government to allow Malaysians of different religious backgrounds to continue to conduct their prayers, to seek for spiritual blessings amidst the pandemic, with proper SOP,” he said.
He opined that, just like how the Muslims are conducting their prayers during this period of time, the other communities too should be allowed to continue to conduct their religious rituals by observing proper SOPs, besides exercising good discipline.
He asserted that by treating all religions in the country equally could better promote religious harmony and unity among the people of different races and religions.
“We must all unite as one single Malaysian race, in order to get through this devastating pandemic together,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, touching on the Thaipusam public holiday issue, Goh urged the Federal government and all State governments to quickly adopt a unified stand to avoid the issue from getting out of control.
He expressed regret that recently a certain state has decided to cancel the Thaipusam public holiday (cuti peristiwa) by citing an insignificant Indian population in the state. He opined that this issue should be immediately and amicably resolved, through proper consultation between the government and the affected community, instead of allowing it to be politicized or exploited by some interested parties.
He thus urged both the Federal and State governments to quickly adopt a unified stand that is based on the nation’s multiracial and multicultural background, to resolve the issue.-pr/BNN
