KUALA LUMPUR – Censorship of the Christmas carol ‘O Holy Night’ in a programme on Sarawak broadcaster TVS is under the purview of the home minister, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil said following outcry on social media over the matter.
He said his checks with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) found that pre-recorded programmes on TVS did not require the agency’s approval.
“TVS licence condition is specifically for live and delayed telecast; prerecorded does not require MCMC approval.
“As such, MCMC is not involved in this decision-making process. LPF is under (the Home Ministry),” Fahmi said on X (formerly Twitter), referring to the Film Censorship Board, which is under the Home Ministry.
He was responding to a post on X by a Cyril Dason, who shared a letter from the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS).
In the letter to the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) under the Sarawak Premier’s Department dated November 13, ACS said it declined to participate in the ‘A Christmas Carol: Sarawak in Diversity’ programme.
This was because its request to TVS to remove one song, ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ and replace it with ‘O Holy Night’, had been rejected.
“We only asked for one song to be changed. As TVS could not fulfil this request, ACS feels we cannot be involved in this programme.”
ACS also said it was informed that its request for the song change was rejected “due to the religious elements and also due to the protocol from LPF and MCMC”.
It added that its request to change the song was to reflect the purpose of celebrating Christmas, which is about the birth of Christ.
“Christmas is about Christ. There is no Christmas without Christ.”
The letter was also shared by Sarawak opposition politician Baru Bian who said he supported the ACS’ decision to opt out of the programme, while local party Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan was reported as saying by FMT that the organiser had “insulted” over one million Christians in Sarawak.
Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii also posted about the matter on X, saying he was in touch with the relevant authorities to find a resolution.
According to media reports, ‘A Christmas Carol, Sarawak in Diversity’ is to be held on December 3 in Kuching, and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg is to be the guest of honour.
The ACS letter was signed by its chairman Rev Datuk Danald Jute, and copied to Unifor director Datuk Jack Aman Laut.
Unifor is under the portfolio of Sarawak deputy chief minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas. – November 24, 2023