Selangor State Govt Greenlights Bon Odori Festival Despite Criticism
On Monday (June 6), Datuk Idris Ahmad, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), had initially warned Muslims not to partake in the Bon Odori festival set to commence in Shah Alam next month.
In a statement, Idris clarified that a survey performed by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department found that the festival incorporates elements of other religious faiths and therefore could potentially ‘mislead’ or negatively influence Muslims.
However, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has since countered the claim by saying that the festival has been held in the state for decades.
He also mentioned that the festival is domestically significant and vital as it seeks to enhance ties among organisations, individuals, and societies in Japan and Malaysia.
“We discovered that this input had surfaced a few days…
