I disagree with S'gor ban on Muslims attending churches, temple events, says Syed Farid Alatas

SHAH ALAM - Malaysian sociologist Syed Farid Alatas disagrees prohibiting Muslims from events in other religions' worship houses.

In a Twitter post, he said: "I disagree with the regulation to prohibite programmes involving Muslims in other religions' houses of worship.

"It should be encouraged to strengthen religious harmony. It is impossible that the faith of the Muslim community is so weak that entering a non-Muslim house of worship jeopardises their faith," said the professor in the Department of Sociology at the National University of Singapore.

Earlier on Wednesday, State Islamic Religious Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Halal Industry exco Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni said that the Selangor government prohibited programmes involving Muslims visiting other houses of worship.

Zawawi said that even if he welcomed the programmes infused with understanding and tolerance between religions held by NGOs, it should follow the Selangor Islamic Religious Department's (Jais) guidelines, especially in legal aspects.

On Monday, a local media portal reported an NGO had under the Youth and Sports Ministry had organised 'Projek Artikel 11: Ziarah Gereja' programme inviting non-Christian youths to visit the Church.

The programme was held with the purpose of giving exposure of religious similarities and differences through visits and volunteering activities.

However, on Tuesday, the Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the programme was not intended to give impression that all religions practiced by Malaysians are the same.