KUCHING: Ba’ Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian has strongly opposed the now-retracted proposal by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) to regulate how Muslims participate in non-Muslim events.
He described the proposal as unnecessary and contradictory to Sarawak’s long standing religious harmony.
Welcoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s decision not to proceed with the proposed guidelines, Baru said Sarawak has thrived without such regulations, relying instead on mutual respect and understanding between faith communities.
“The proposed guidelines, which would have required prior permission for Muslims to attend events in non-Islamic places of worship and prohibited elements deemed offensive to Muslim sensitivities, raise serious concerns. The latter, in particular, is open to broad and subjective interpretation,” he said.
Baru also backed statements made by Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Secretary-General Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan, who had criticised the move.
“As the elected representative of Ba’ Kelalan, I stand firmly in the belief that Sarawak does not need such regulations. Sarawak has long been a model of religious harmony, where people of all faiths—Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and indigenous beliefs—coexist peacefully and respect one another’s religious practices.
“This organic harmony is a fundamental aspect of our society, nurtured over generations without the need for excessive governmental intervention,” he said in a statement.
He said the proposal contradicts Sarawak’s unique status within Malaysia, as the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) establishes that Sarawak has no official religion.
“Any attempt to impose restrictive guidelines on interfaith activities is not only unnecessary but also an affront to our constitutionally protected freedom of religion and belief,” he added.
Baru added that such restrictions could affect Christian weddings, typically conducted in churches with hymns and sermons as integral elements.
“Restrictive policies could lead to unintended consequences, such as discouraging interfaith participation or creating unnecessary barriers to long standing traditions of mutual respect.
“Furthermore, while the guidelines appeared to be directed at Muslims, their implications would have been inevitably extended to non-Muslims, raising significant questions about jurisdiction and the potential infringement on the rights of other religious communities—an overreach that the federal minister has no legal authority over,” said Baru.
He said the state has proven that religious harmony thrives when based on trust, respect, and understanding—not excessive control.
“Policies that dictate how interfaith interactions should take place risk undermining the very unity that has defined our state for decades,” he stressed.
He also noted that Muslims have attended non-Muslim events for years without issues, as most Malaysians respect each other’s religions and do not need to be micromanaged.
“It was therefore a correct and proper decision by the Cabinet that there is no need for official guidelines for Muslims to follow when attending non-Muslim events.
“In the future, not only must such issues be thoroughly debated upon at the cabinet level but opinions must also be sought from stakeholders to avoid creating unnecessary suspicion and tension among the people,” said Baru.
