COMMENT | The recent ban on the two words, “Merry Christmas”, has nothing to do with religion or religious conservatism, but it has everything to do with control.

Otherwise, why would the greeting, “Merry Christmas” alarm conservative Malays?

Christmas is a time for sharing, a reason to be jolly, for showing forgiveness, compassion, and giving presents, but for some Malays, Christmas is a time for banning things.

Usually around Christmas, irrational fear strikes many conservative Muslims. If ordinary Malays are allowed to share Christmas greetings with fellow Malaysians, what other liberties will they demand tomorrow?

The authorities need to be strict with bans on greetings, or open houses to discourage interaction of the races, and anything that resembles fun, simply to fulfil their desire to control peoples’ behaviour.