In Malaysia, cancellation of Hindu holiday stokes minorities’ concerns

Decision to cancel one-day Thaipusam holiday in Kedah over coronavirus concerns comes in for heavy criticism by opposition MPs and former PM Najib Razak

Analysts warned that the move – along with proposed strengthening of Islamic law, aimed at targeting LGBT community – reflects a growing conservative force

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Hindu devotees carry milk pots on their heads as they gather at a shrine in Batu Caves during the 2019 Thaipusam celebrations in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:05pm, 28 Jan 2021Updated: 11:18pm, 28 Jan 2021

The cancellation of a public holiday for a Hindu festival in Malaysia’s Kedah state along with the country’s de facto Religious Affairs Ministry recently signalling that the country’s sharia law penalties could be strengthened – with the country’s LGBT community as one of the main targets – have unsettled religious minorities and some moderate Muslims who worry the country is moving towards greater conservatism.

The Kedah chief minister’s decision to cancel the one-day public holiday on Thursday to celebrate Thaipusam, purportedly out of coronavirus fears, has come in for heavy criticism by Malaysian opposition MPs and former prime minister Najib Razak.

Some analysts said that the Islamist Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) was attempting to further entrench principles of Islamic conservatism in the country with the recent moves.

“This is expected with PAS in power,” said Mohamed Faizal, a visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. “Those non-Muslims saying that Islamic conservatism won’t affect them are definitely wrong,” he said, adding that it would not be the last attempt by PAS to legislate its religious views.

“It will infect the whole country,” Faizal said, referring to PAS’s political agenda. “Conservatism is a pandemic.”

The festival, which celebrates the triumph of Hindu deity Lord Murugan over evil forces, was previously designated a public holiday in Kedah from 2014 to 2019 but did not enjoy the same status last year because it fell on a Saturday, which is a normal day off in Malaysia. Seven of Malaysia’s 13 states and three federal territories – including Kuala Lumpur – also celebrate the holiday, although Kedah was the only one to cancel it.