Education Ministry ignites Mujahid fury over ‘haram’ Ponggal circular

Zaim Ibrahim Zaim Ibrahim Updated 4 years ago · Published on 17 Jan 2020 9:35PM · 5 Comments

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa wants action taken against the people responsible for the Ponggal fiasco. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, January 17, 2020.

THE Education Ministry circular advising schools on Ponggal celebrations was wrong to use the word “haram” (forbidden), Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa said today.

The minister in charge of religious affairs also said the Federal Islamic Development Board’s (Jakim) name had been misused in the circular, and wants action against those who drafted the letter.

Speaking in Penang today, Mujahid said Jakim had never prohibited Muslims from Ponggal festivities and that its advice to the Education Ministry for schools was just a guide for Muslims, if they were to be involved in the celebration.

“The circular was changed (from the intended context), where the word ‘haram’ and ‘should’ were used.

“Whoever wrote the circular should have action taken against them for putting the blame on Jakim,” he said at a press conference in Nibong Tebal.

The January 13 circular signed to all state education departments said that on the advice of Jakim, Muslims were forbidden from participating in Ponggal festivities as it was meant for Hindus only.

It also issued several do’s and don’ts for Muslims if schools were to celebrate the Tamil harvest festival.

It drew immediate criticism, including from Hindu Sangham as well as ministers M Kula Segaran and Gobind Singh Deo, who pointed out that Ponggal was a cultural, and not a religious festival.

Mujahid took issue with the ministry for appearing to deflect the public uproar over the circular to Jakim.

He said the ministry had asked Jakim for its opinion to address concerns of Muslim parents, but Jakim was not responsible for drafting the circular. – January 17, 2020.

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Comments

  • Both Ministries are at fault and action ought to be taken against the officer who gave the advice as well as the one who drafted the circular.

    Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • Next time then Chinese will ask Buddhist monk and Indians will ask Hindu Sangam and Christians will refer to their cardinal advice for do and donts to attend Muslims function. The majority of Malays knew that they are always Muslims regardless of attending or participating non Muslims functions.

    Posted 4 years ago by Malaysian Politics · Reply

  • Why are Jakim and PAS so afraid of anything that is not Islamic in nature? Do they think that Muslims are just so fragile that they cannot be exposed to anything outside of their religion as it may taint them? That surely is a sign of grave insecurity.

    Posted 4 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply

  • Muslims are POOR IN RELIGION n SPRITUALY NOT DEVELOPED.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply

  • Nonsense Mujahid!! You are a big disappointment. Finding scapegoat now? Why protect Jakim. That monster should never have existed in the first place. Isn't religion under the purview of the Sultans and the Agong? Isn't Jakim traitorous to have usurped the constitutional powers of the Sultan and Agong? Close down Jakim and channel the billions they spent on the poor.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mike Mok · Reply