Yes, it will be a blue Christmas indeed for hundreds of Christian students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) who have once again been denied the simple right to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on campus grounds come December 25 this year.
Sad as this prohibition may be, a more disturbing element is that Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist students continue to be allowed to hold their celebrations on campus grounds. The traditional Tadau Kaamatan (a harvest festival) was also celebrated on UMS grounds as an annual event without any trouble.
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| Sabah Below The Wind |
In taking up this matter to the Barisan Nasional leadership, United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) acting president, Madius Tangau said, “Upko disagrees with policies that bar students from exercising their religious freedom, more so in an institution of higher learning. Thus, I have taken it on to bring up the matter with our top Barisan Nasional leadership.”
Tangau said he was praying hard that university authorities would change their minds and give the students the go-ahead this year.
He also lamented that Christian students had to look to hotels and shopping complexes as alternative venues to celebrate Christmas every year although to many, the university was like a second home to them.
According to a Malay Mail report, some students confirmed that celebrating Christmas on campus had never been allowed as far as they could remember although some senior students had applied for approval but had always been rejected.
Others took the prohibition in stride saying it was easier to organise off site as there were less restrictions, and the only drawback was the higher cost it involved.
Meanwhile UMS deputy vice chancellor in charge of student affairs Dr Ismail Ali was tight-lipped about why students of other religions were allowed to hold celebrations on campus, saying only that parties were best held off campus.
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