KUCHING: The Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) has described the federal government’s proposed guidelines on events involving Muslims in non-Islamic houses of worship as unnecessary and overbearing, asserting that such regulations are not needed in Sarawak.
SUPP secretary-general Datuk Sebastian Ting said the party believes that imposing rigid guidelines may lead to misunderstandings and resentment among communities that have long lived together peacefully in the state.
“Sarawak, as a prime example, thrives on organic religious harmony because its people practise mutual respect without excessive interference.
“Imposing rigid guidelines may lead to misunderstandings, suspicion and even resentment among communities that have long lived together peacefully.
“Instead of fostering unity, it could create an artificial sense of separation,” he said in a statement.
Ting was responding to the statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Na’im Mokhtar in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 5) regarding the introduction of new federal guidelines for such events.
The guidelines include obtaining permission from religious authorities if Muslims are involved and ensuring events do not contain elements that could offend Muslim sensitivities.
Ting noted that Sarawak does not have an official religion, a status enshrined in both the Sarawak Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which should be taken into account when proposing religious-related policies.
Sarawak, he asserted, is often praised as a model of religious acceptance and harmony, where people of different faiths — Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and various indigenous beliefs — coexist peacefully.
“Sarawak’s multi-cultural and multi-religious society embraces mutual respect, often celebrating each other’s festivals and traditions together.
“This unity is deeply rooted in Sarawak’s culture, where interfaith marriages, mixed-ethnic communities, and a strong sense of togetherness are common,” he added.
The Piasau assemblyman credited the Sarawak government, under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), for ensuring religious freedom and interfaith understanding, making the state a strong example of unity in diversity.
Instead of imposing strict regulations, he suggested that a better approach would be encouraging open dialogue, mutual understanding, and education on religious diversity while allowing people to maintain their traditions freely.
“In Malaysia as a whole, a balance must be struck between respecting religious beliefs and ensuring that policies do not unintentionally breed intolerance.
“Sarawak proves that trust and natural co-existence work better than excessive control,” he stressed.
