The Seputeh MP today called the police requirement “simply unnecessary and an abuse of power by the authorities.” — file pic
She said a recent request by Klang district police for two churches
there to hand over details of homeowners they would visit while
carolling indicated an attempt to clamp down on religious freedom.
“While the requirement of providing detailed info of carolling activities and participants, and obtaining a police permit is tedious in itself, Christian churches and groups have adhered to this rule since the late ‘80s and have gone about spreading joy and peace to members’ homes without disturbing public order nor infringing on the religious freedoms of others in Malaysia.
“The supposed current need for further information and restrictions on carollers, such as the requirement to provide the police with details of names and contacts of homeowners whom the churches’ carolling groups will visit, is simply unnecessary and an abuse of power by the authorities,” she said in a statement.
Kok urged Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to clarify the need for churches to inform Bukit Aman police headquarters and the National Security Council of this “insignificant information”.
“This should not be practised nor tolerated by the government of Malaysia and further clarification must be delivered by the authorities should this episode be merely an act of overzealous police personnel,” she said.
The Malaysian Insider reported today two churches in Klang had received a memo from a district police officer earlier this week asking them to submit the names and contact details of homeowners they planned to visit.
Rev Father Michael Chua said the two parish churches — the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Church of the Holy Redeemer — were also told to inform Bukit Aman and the National Security Council of their plans.
Carollers are usually required to submit their full names, identity card numbers and details of total participants, dates, time and general areas of their visits.
The irregular condition imposed by the Klang district police officer this year has cast the spotlight on a recently passed law that governs peaceful assemblies, which many civil liberties groups claim is more restrictive than the law it replaced.
Malaysia, which established diplomatic ties with the Vatican earlier this year, has nearly a million Catholics out of its 28 million population.
“While the requirement of providing detailed info of carolling activities and participants, and obtaining a police permit is tedious in itself, Christian churches and groups have adhered to this rule since the late ‘80s and have gone about spreading joy and peace to members’ homes without disturbing public order nor infringing on the religious freedoms of others in Malaysia.
“The supposed current need for further information and restrictions on carollers, such as the requirement to provide the police with details of names and contacts of homeowners whom the churches’ carolling groups will visit, is simply unnecessary and an abuse of power by the authorities,” she said in a statement.
Kok urged Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to clarify the need for churches to inform Bukit Aman police headquarters and the National Security Council of this “insignificant information”.
“This should not be practised nor tolerated by the government of Malaysia and further clarification must be delivered by the authorities should this episode be merely an act of overzealous police personnel,” she said.
The Malaysian Insider reported today two churches in Klang had received a memo from a district police officer earlier this week asking them to submit the names and contact details of homeowners they planned to visit.
Rev Father Michael Chua said the two parish churches — the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Church of the Holy Redeemer — were also told to inform Bukit Aman and the National Security Council of their plans.
Carollers are usually required to submit their full names, identity card numbers and details of total participants, dates, time and general areas of their visits.
The irregular condition imposed by the Klang district police officer this year has cast the spotlight on a recently passed law that governs peaceful assemblies, which many civil liberties groups claim is more restrictive than the law it replaced.
Malaysia, which established diplomatic ties with the Vatican earlier this year, has nearly a million Catholics out of its 28 million population.
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