KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 — The Education Ministry and the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia each say the other is responsible for a controversial circular advising against Muslim participation in the Ponggal harvest festival.

Shortly after the ministry sent out a statement saying the views in the circular were based on Jakim’s position and guidelines, the department released its own saying that it was the ministry’s prerogative to send out the circular to schools.

Jakim also insisted that it was simply responding to the ministry’s request.


“The decision in this matter is under the ministry’s authority. Jakim only provided its views from the Islamic perspective and did not prohibit the celebrations in any way.


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“Additionally, Jakim’s shariah expert panel is also of the opinion that it is permissible for Muslims to wish friends and neighbours who are celebrating without the intention of acknowledging their religion, and for Muslims not to belittle, demean, and insult their gods,” the department said.

Earlier, the ministry acknowledged the circular but insisted that it did not prohibit schools from celebrating the Ponggal festival.

The ministry claimed the circular was intended to allay the concerns of Muslim parents about their children’s participation in the festival.

The circular that was leaked online yesterday showed the ministry describing Ponggal as a religious festival and advised Muslims to restrain their participation if “forced” to attend these.

The document cited Jakim as saying it is “haram (forbidden)” for Muslims to join in Ponggal festivities, “especially the event where milk rice is cooked”, referring to the sweet rice that Indians cook in a pot to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.

Since then, two DAP ministers have come out to stress that Ponggal is a cultural event and not religious in nature.

The controversy is the latest related to a cultural celebration in Muslim-majority Malaysia, after a school in Puchong was forced to remove its Chinese New Year decorations over claims that this amounted to proselytising to Muslim students.https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/01/15/now-jakim-washes-hands-of-ministrys-ponggal-circular/18281

let_them_fight.gif

jakim should just fuck off.

This post has been edited by waxppl: Jan 15 2020, 01:19 PM

as a malaysian i wish Msia gov declare ponggal as a public holiday

The letter should not exist in the first place..

If it were to be written,it should touch on these few points

Pongal is one of the celebration by Indian ppl
Promote muhibbah spirit, so everyone is okay to join
But for Muslim students, they are encourage to join but should adhere to the rules as stated in the original photo when joining.

All in all, the writer don't really know how to express the idea. That's why it's perceived wrongly.

this minister... takda pasa cari pasal...


ponggal for hindu devotees.... muslim cant celebrate.. for muslim only laah


the circular didnt said the ponggal was ban or cannot celebrate... aiyooo

Just ban this poisonous organization that makan gaji buta, tangkap basah, provide no benefit but creates lots of liability.
Cancer to society.

What Jakim said is true. I don't belip they got balls to come out with funny things without being ordered.

In Malaysia only one religion they think got insulted

All cowards, in the end like PDRM. "Setakat nasihat saja"

Actually, it's true, JAKIM has no power to enforce a lot of things. They are the central body where people "refer to for coordinating and managing anything about Islam in Malaysia".

So when people ask, "can a Muslim celebrate Ponggal?" for example, they will do some reading and meeting and come up with a unified statement: "No you can't".

But can they enforce it? NO. Can they sue somebody who celebrated it? NO. Can they instruct other bodies or authorities to adopt their stand? NO.

However, if any authoritative body decide to adopt it, then it can be enforced. So I think in the issue of Ponggal celebration, it's on KPM.

whose instruction to send out the letter?

does such "instruction" exists when BN was gov?

Pongal is harvest festival. Hindus respect the mother earth and sun for providing facilities.. there is nothing beyond this.. If you dont like stay away. but dont impose fanatics rule on kids

MOE wasting time on stupid issues. H1N1 spreading in schools should be looked into not on whether Muslims should attend a festive celebration. Are people so stupid that they need to be told what can be celebrated and what cannot be celebrated. Does Jakim has a direct line to God or is merely heresay?

now u create hatred among indias.. good.. u win liao

support.
every public holiday are welcome

dont have power to enforce alot of things?

but take video of nekid couple can right?

hearsay


and hearsay

Itu JAWI, JAIS, JAIJ etc (all the states got one). Not JAKIM.