The banning of Christmas decorations at halal-certified eateries and hotels in Malacca could harm tourism, the state’s Democratic Action Party (DAP) remarked.
This came after the Melaka Islamic Religious Department (JAIM) reportedly prohibited halal-certified restaurants in the state from putting up Christmas decorations. UMNO Youth Chief Dr Akmal Saleh said that having Christmas decorations in a restaurant does not render halal food haram, stressing that such a view is unfair as halal status is determined by a food’s ingredients and how it is prepared.
“Festive decorations SHOULD NOT be an issue in Malaysia.”
In an official statement last night (19 December), Melaka DAP said the issue has raised concerns as it negatively affects entrepreneurs and damages the state’s image as a tourist destination. With domestic and international tourists visiting Malacca, DAP noted that it is common practice for hotels and food premises in Malaysia to display greetings and decorations according to festive seasons.
The practice of celebrating cultural diversity and festive occasions has long been the foundation of harmony and unity in the nation, DAP Melaka added.
This includes Hari Raya, Deepavali, Chinese New Year, and Christmas.
“Festive decorations should not be an issue as Malaysia is a multicultural country.”
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DAP Melaka then urged JAIM to adopt a stance that aligns with the spirit of celebrating Malaysia’s diversity, particularly in the state of Melaka. The party also referred to an incident in 2023 where JAKIM clarified that there was no restriction on any halal-certified cake shop from writing any form of “Merry Christmas” greeting on cakes or similar items.
“DAP Melaka also calls on the Chief Minister of Melaka to clarify the matter immediately. Take appropriate action to prevent issues that could disrupt social harmony and damage Melaka’s image as a tourism state.”
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