KUCHING: Association of Churches Sarawak (ACS) chairman Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute has been appointed as a member of the Inter-Faith Harmony Committee (HARMONI) for a two-year term.
The appointment made by National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang is effective from Jan 1, 2025 to Dec 31, 2026.
“For the Right Reverend’s information, HARMONI, co-chaired by the Minister of National Unity and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), has been established to promote mutual understanding and harmony among followers of various religions in the country.
“It is hoped that the Right Reverend’s experience will contribute to strengthening interfaith harmony, ensuring the well-being of the people and the prosperity of the nation, in line with the government’s vision to develop Malaysia MADANI,” read the appointment letter, which was shared by Danald in a Facebook post today (Feb 7).
Danald, who is also the Bishop of the Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam, however, in the same post, said he would resign immediately from the committee if the proposed guidelines announced by the Minister of Religious Affairs are approved by the federal Cabinet.
Earlier, it was reported that the federal government was in the final stages of drafting new guidelines on Muslim participation in non-Muslim religious celebrations, funerals, and events held at non-Muslim houses of workshop.
Later on Feb 7, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar and Aaron in a joint statement said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) will continue to provide advice to Muslims regarding their participation in religious events hosted by non-Muslim communities, and the advice will not constitute an official policy.
