Two churches in Klang, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, have received a note on behalf of the police asking for names and details of people singing Christmas carols because, according to officials, authorization of the police is required to be able to sing carols in churches and homes.

As local sources of Fides in the Christian community note, believers define such claims as “absurd and unacceptable”. Jesuit Father Lawrence Andrew, Director of the diocesan weekly “Herald” explains to Fides: “It is a strict interpretation regarding existing rules on the exercise of activities of worship and freedom of religion. The police are in total confusion. After protests carried out by Christians, government representatives have denied the need for such authorizations”.

In a note sent to Fides His Exc. Mgr. Paul Tan Chee Ing, Bishop of Melaka-Johor and President of the Episcopal Conference, said that such restrictions would make the country “almost a police state”, if the police continue to claim “these bureaucratic requirements”.

Fides sources see political and electoral reasons behind episodes of this kind.

Full Story:  Christmas carols in homes only “if authorized by the police” Christians protest

Source: Agenzia Fides