Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria has inadvertently drawn a line between parties who either support or criticise his call on the government to review the practice of joint celebrations or ' kongsi raya '.

But one thing is clear - Harussani has some explaining to do.

Nicholas Sylvester, a convert heading Islamic group JIM's proselytisation wing, said Harussani or other muftis need to explain to distinguish between celebrations that are religious in nature and those that are predominantly socio-cultural.

While Sylvester supports the call to review the practice of simultaneously hosting two or more religious celebrations, he said this should not apply to cultural events and social gatherings.

"We need to make a distinction between what is religious and what is cultural," he said, citing the Chinese new year celebrations.

"We're not against open houses as it is encouraged in terms of visiting people and strengthening good relations," he added when contacted yesterday.

Pluralistic society

PAS national unity committee chief Mujahid Yusof Rawa said the mufti needs to address the demands and interests of the country's pluralistic society.

"There needs to be some explanation based on the other bigger interests of unity, especially in Malaysia where we are multiracial and have different ethnic groups and faiths.

"That needs to be considered so as not to jeopardise the true meaning of Islam, which calls for racial unity and respect for one another," he added.

Mujahid, however, said he was not against the mufti's stand that Muslims are prohibited from sharing celebrations where one participates in affirming the principles of another religion.

"You cannot be celebrating or affirming something that is against or contrary to your ' aqidah ' (Islamic beliefs)," he added.

On the same note, he pointed out that Muslim leaders have an obligation to non-Muslim communities.

"I, for example, am a national unity committee leader. I can't be expected to have non-Muslims come over only to my open house during Hari Raya. I also have to go to their open houses," he said.

"If a fatwa (religious edict) to that effect is put in place, will I be arrested (for visiting open houses)?" he asked.

Meanwhile, other religious and political figures had outrightly criticised Harussaini's ( right ) stand.

DAP national vice-chairperson Chow Kon Yeow expressed concern that the mufti's view reflected the nation's "march towards Islamisation".

Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) president A Vaithilingam said kongsi raya is an integral feature of cosmopolitan Malaysia. It also helps promote the country, he added.

Unity, not division

Sarath Surendre, a Buddhist representative on the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS) questioned the wisdom of turning back the clock on an already 'globalised world'.

While MCCBCHS' Christian member John R Gurusamy said Malaysians should not be distracted by religious rites that divide but focus on things that serve to unite.

"The core values of religions are the same: love, justice, and humility. Inclusiveness is promoted by every religion. As one sage once put it, 'It is a privilege to have been born in a particular religion. It is a tragedy to die in it," he said.

"We are all accidents of history. Malays were at one point in time Hindus and Buddhists before becoming Muslims. Once we seek to be exclusive and say we are superior or our religion is superior to the others, we have become arrogant," he added.

International Movement for a Just World president Chandra Muzaffar said throughout the history of religions, there had been "custodians of the faiths claiming to defend the purity of the faiths".

In many instances, however, "it meant for such persons taking a position against accommodation, against being more inclusive and universal," he added.

According to Chandra, the ulama (Islamic religious scholar) in Malaysia seem to more concerned only with the superficial aspects of Muslim identity than most scholars in other countries.

"It is important to remind ourselves that Islam's splendour was its willingness to absorb other ideas while at the same time protecting the integrity of the faith," he said.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today also dismissed Harussaini's call to review the kongsi raya celebrations.

He said the celebrations are not related to religion but mere social events.

Call supported

However, certain groups had voiced support for the mufti's stand. Among them, is a body calling itself the Anti Inter-Faith Commission (Badai).

It said the decision was made by a competent religious person based on strong evidence from the Quran and Hadith (Prophetic traditions).

"Badai believes that national unity had existed and can continue in this country on the condition that followers of all religions respect each other," said its chairperson Mohd Hafiz Mohd Nordin.

Badai was involved in the controversial protest which forcibly ended an Article 11 coalition's function to discuss religious freedom.

Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) secretary-general Khairul Arifin Mohd Munir called for guidelines to be drafted so that the Islamic faith can be guarded while improving racial and religious tolerance.