By : SHANNON TEOH
DATUK Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has asked the police to clarify if Christmas carollers need permits for their traditional music visits, after admitting yesterday he was unsure of the requirement which has existed for the past 30 years.
The home minister asked the police on micro-blogging site Twitter to clarify if carollers needed permits after The Malaysian Insider reported the requirement by the South Klang police.
The revelation came to light after a Twitter exchange between the Home Minister and Datuk Seri Idris Jala.
“Don’t think so bro but will check,” he wrote in reply to Datuk Seri Idris Jala, the minister in charge of Pemandu who has been the government’s pointman with regards to Christian affairs.
“@PDRMsia pls clarify in TJ — re having 2 get permit 4 christmas carols?” the Sembrong MP added, asking the police to state on Twitter if such a requirement exists. Twitterjaya or TJ is the name for the Malaysian community on the micro-blogging service.
Hishammuddin also ‘retweeted’ on his account, HishammuddinH20, postings by other users who said it would be unfair if carollers needed permits and that it would be raised as a point of contention by the opposition.
The Malaysian Insider reported on Friday that the police were asking Christians for more details than usual this year including the full names and contact details of homeowners whom they intended to visit this carolling season.
Idris, who is a Christian, was also unsure and said “@HishammuddinH2O need to look into this,” when told by another “tweeter” that carolling required police permits.
“That’s what I thought bro. RT @HishammuddinH2O: dont think so bro but will check,” he wrote, citing Hishammuddin’s reply.
The Malaysian Insider had reported that parish priests in Klang were alarmed to receive a memo from a district police officer this past week informing them of the requirement.
They were also asked to provide Bukit Aman and the National Security Council with the same information, said an alarmed Rev Father Michael Chua, who told The Malaysian Insider he received the news from the parish priests of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Church of the Holy Redeemer earlier this week.
Police denied yesterday restricting the movement of carollers in Klang despite changing the permit application process.
South Klang OCPD ACP Mohamad Mat Yusop said district police began interviewing carolling groups that have applied for permits this year because administration of the district has been split in two.
Putrajaya pushed a law earlier this month that outlawed street protests and also demonstrations near houses of worship, schools and other public areas, leading to concerns that the carollers are being lumped under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011.
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