Selangor Ruler Sees No Issue With Bon Odori Orders Jais To Not Obstruct Fest

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Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director Mohd Shahzihan Ahmad has clarified that Jais has no plans to block the Bon Odori festival, which is set to take place next month.
Mohd Shahzihan had issued a statement today, claiming that he had received royal orders from Selangor ruler Sharafuddin Idris Shah not to obstruct the Japanese summer festival in any way.
Additionally, the state department was instructed not to halt individuals wishing to attend the event.
The Jais director had met the Selangor ruler at Istana Bukit Kayangan earlier today at 2.30pm to discuss the much-debated Bon Odori festival.
Mohd Shahzihan said that the sultan felt that the festival was not a risk to Muslims in the country as religion is not always related to culture.
“His Royal Highness (felt that) it was not lawful for any decision or ruling on such a matter to be concluded hurriedly without in-depth studies and scrutiny.
“He was of the view that many cultures were connected with religion but that religion is not necessarily a part of culture.
“He also stressed that practising something is different from witnessing it,” said the Jais director.
According to him, the sultan had also argued that Muslims had little to worry about practices that run contrary to Sunnah Wal Jamaah, the main branch of Islam in the country if one’s faith in the religion is strong and true.
Further, the sultan had ordered Jais and Shah Alam Municipal Council (MBSA) officers to attend the Bon Odori festival to witness and better understand the programme personally.
Mohd Shahzihan claimed that the Selangor sultan had personally attended the Japanese festival a few years ago and failed to see anything that risked the faith of Muslims in the country.
According to the Jais director, the sultan had described the festival as a ‘social programme for employees in Japanese-owned companies based in Selangor’.
This comes after a public backlash in response to comments made by Religious Affairs minister Idris Ahmad.
Idris had warned Muslims against participating in the Bon Odori festival.
According to Idris, research conducted by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) confirmed that Bon Odori contained influences from non-Islamic religions.
Since his remarks, Idris has been widely criticised for advising Muslims not to participate in the upcoming Bon Odori event.
After a two year hiatus, the Bon Odori festival will be held on July 16, 2022, at Kompleks Sukan Negara in Shah Alam.
One of the festival’s co-organisers, the Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, had issued a statement earlier today, saying that the festival is a cultural event held as an effort to promote and strengthen the friendship between Japan and Malaysia.
While the festival will primarily feature Japanese cultural performances, they noted that Malaysian dance performances coordinated by Tourism Selangor would also be introduced to the local Japanese community.
“As this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Malaysia, as well as the 40th anniversary of Malaysia’s Look East Policy, the organising committee of the Bon Odori, with all the partners, hope that the occasion will serve as yet another opportunity to bond the two peoples of Japan and Malaysia,” said the Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur. - Mkini

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