LETTER | It is a pity that each time when there is a festive celebration there is a reminder by religious elites to the common Malay-Muslim masses that they should not be seen to endorse other religious beliefs by their presence.

The most recent one involves a Christmas celebration hosted by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and attended by the Muslim members of the ministry’s staff. 

Controversies over wishing Christians Merry Christmas, where wishing is seen as endorsing a particular religion, have been brewing over the years.

One wonders if Muslims who are of various backgrounds and perceptions could be seen as endorsing the Christian faith just by using phrases like Merry Christmas.

Even if there is an endorsement, it is about endorsing the freedom of religion, which is part of a diverse society which is a Malaysian reality.

Some would say that controversies of this sort are due to an obsession with religion.

I would disagree that such behaviour exhibited by a certain political party and its allies is due to an obsession with religion.

It is not about obsession with religion, it is about obsession for power and control using underlying fear and insecurity for support.

Religion itself has various dimensions, such as conscientiousness, awe, sanctity, ritual, and faith.

One could passionately adhere to a religion, but the real issue in the Malaysian context is not religion per se, but rather dealing with religious egos that take on a black-and-white approach in dealing with complex issues.

Religious ego is the “I am right and you are wrong” attitude, which is self-righteous and damaging since it’s unable to see the good in others.

In this attitude rooted in religious ego, politics takes on an exclusive character over politics of inclusivity and moderation.

All religions have people who exhibit such behaviours and it’s vital that such flaws are brought out to open for dialogue where faith and reason become the way to address obsessive religious ego.

Therefore the Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue urges religious leaders of all faiths to reflect on why and how religion has been used in an egoistic manner which is detrimental to the well-being of society.

Religion should be a transformative force in society, where the values of love and compassion are put into action and never about power and control that resides in the ego.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.