We don’t need such religious guidelines in Sarawak, saya Secretary General, Datuk Sebastian Ting
SUPP wishes to respond to the announcement by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Na’im Mokhtar, in Parliament on Wednesday (5 Feb, 2025) that the government would be introducing a new set of guidelines for events involving Muslims taking place in non-Islamic houses of worship.
SUPP Secretary GENERAL, Datuk Sebastian Ting said the guidelines include having to obtain permission from religious authorities if the event includes Muslims, and that the events must not contain elements that could offend Muslim sensitivities.
“Although we fully understand and respect the minister’s proposal for the guidelines, paramount in our stand is that there is no official religion in Sarawak and hence, that “secular Sarawak” enshrinement in Sarawak Constitution and also the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) must be taken into cognizance when proposing guidelines bordering on any religion, including Islam.
We wish to stress that Sarawak 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,” he pointed out.
Ting added that 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 that SUPP also credits the Sarawak GPS Government, of which we are proud to be a partner, for playing a vital role in ensuring religious freedom and interfaith understanding, making Sarawak a shining example of unity in diversity.
In that regard, Ting said SUPP find the proposed guidelines “unnecessary and over-bearing” and earnestly believe that we do not need them in Sarawak.
SUPP is of the opinion that over-regulating religious practices and being overly cautious about religious sensitivities – especially when such issues are not actual concerns for the people – can create unnecessary divisions.
Sarawak, he explained, as a prime example, thrives on organic religious harmony because its people practice 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 where none existed before.
A better approach would be to encourage 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.
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