MOE: ‘Haram’ for Muslim Civil Servants to participate in Ponggal celebration

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PUTRAJAYA, 13 Jan 2020 (The Capital Post) – As Malaysian Indians are preparing to celebrate Ponggal tomorrow , Ministry of Education has released a circular dated 13 January 2020 restricting Muslims from participating in it.

Thai Pongal is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamil people in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other countries with a Tamil diaspora. The first celebration in the Tamil calendar, Pongal – or Thai Pongal – is a harvest and thanksgiving festival celebrated by Tamils around the globe.

Pongal has no religious significance and that it is a common Tamil festival for all Tamils and it is celebrated by people of various beliefs as well as Tamil Muslims.

“Ponggal can be a bridge to foster unity. This would be the best time for Malaysians to understand each other’s values and differences”, said a Netizen in a facebook comment responding to Ministry of Education directive in this matter. – The Capital Post

Comments (3)
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  • Devi

    Can the author of this article get his facts right before publishing the article? Only tamil people celebrate ponggal. This shows how ignorant the author and the team who did their research on ponggal celebration is. Wow just wow. Disappointed!

  • R S Nathan

    It is not stupidity. South India wherever there is an harvest they celebrate. The DK (dravida kachi) made it very popular in Tamilnadu bcoz of secularism and atheism. Why classify it as Haram. Is that not wrong? Where is your dignity and your sense of fairness . Why complain about the whole world when you are not doing it right. Look at the mirror!!!

  • Seth RC

    So Malaysian leader has gumption to criticize India for not secular enough when I see from the outside world you treat your Non Muslims as second rate citizen. I see that when you prohibit someone even wishing other religion on their festival – you have absolutely no right to comment others on secularism. Of course what any one expect from a country which is an Islamic republic though constitutionally say otherwise.


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