Don't politicise Bon Odori Festival - Penang Pas

GEORGETOWN - The issue of preventing Muslims from attending the Bon Odori Festival being held at Shah Alam Sports Complex on July 16 shouldn't be politicised as it involves the matter of belief.

Penang Pas Commissioner Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff said Islam was supportive of all religions and Muslims were reminded not to do anything that goes against their belief.

"This issue of belief does not need to be politicised.

"As Muslims, we should always remind each other not to do something that is against our beliefs," he said in a statement today.

He was adamant that the party's stance was in line with the Penang Mufti of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor, which forbids festivals with elements of religions because it is haram for Muslims to participate in them.

"Penang Pas supports the guidelines set by the Penang Mufti and Islamic authorities towards the festival. Muslims should avoid it for the sake of our religion.

"Muslims need to respect the decision made by religious figures which are backed by facts and information before turning it into a political agenda," he said.

Previously, Wan Salim had advised Muslims to hold their own beliefs and avoid this festival with its connection to spirits and ancestry.

He was worried that such festivals could potentially lead to syirik (deification or worship of anyone or anything besides Allah).

He had said that in Islam, the only way to remember our loved ones was through duas towards their souls and not through dances and praises.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad had previously asked Muslims not to participate in the festival because of its relation to another religion.

Idris said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) had confirmed the influence of another religion in their findings.

He said in the festival, the Japanese remembered their ancestors through dance and praises, which were not encouraged in Islam.

The Bon Odori Festival, celebrated for over 500 years in Japan, featured dances as a sign of respect to their ancestors.

The Buddha-Confucian practice grew to be a holiday where families would gather at the birthplace of their ancestors to visit and clean their graves.

Nevertheless, Exco of Tourism and Creative Economy Yeoh Soon Hin said the celebration of the Bon Odori Festival in Penang has been scheduled for July 30 and would go on as planned.

Additionally, he said the state government does not have the power to prevent anyone from participating in the festival.