Controversy of Valentine's Day

PETALING JAYA: Media Prima Bhd has apologised for negative comments made during the programme Halaqah, aired over TV9 two years ago, linking Valentine’s Day with Christianity.

“We regret the comments and opinions expressed by our guest panellist, Siti Nor Bahyah Mahamood during the programme on Feb 15, 2009,” said Media Prima Bhd television networks chief operating officer Ahmad Izham Omar in a press statement.

Siti Nor Bahyah was reported to have said that “immoral activities, discoing, couples meeting in private, were traditions of the Christian community.”

The Christian Federation of Malaysia has stressed that Valentine’s Day was a secular observance which Roman Catholics and Protestants do not commemorate as a religious festival.

“Since the incident, we have been more vigilant and perceptive in monitoring the content of our programmes including Halaqah. We want to ensure that our programmes do not offend or create potentially sensitive content,” Ahmad Izham said.

MCA has urged Media Prima to immediately air a public notification of dissociation from Islamic motivator speaker Siti Nor Bahyah Mahamood's remarks and not to broadcast any programmes with her as a panellist or guest speaker until she apologises to the Christian community.

Comments by motivational speaker Siti Nor Bahyah Mahamood linking Valentine's Day to Christianity and immoral activities by Christians have been criticised by the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM).


"They have erred in their inference, and therefore has hurt the religious feelings of Christians in the country. Valentine's Day is a secular observance, and it is not celebrated religiously by churches in Malaysia, or, in other parts of the world." said Rev. Dr Herman Shastri, General Secretary of Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) in a statement.

He also added, "In the spirit of One Malaysia, promoted by the government, we appeal to the good conscience of the authorities to repeal such hurting inferences that Christianity promotes sexual promiscuity because of Valentine's Day observance, often made in the media and in the said Fatwah."

In the mean time, several Islamic organisations had started Anti-Valentine's Day campaign. However, Sisters in Islam (SIS) has hit out at PAS over its controversial plans to 'check' sinful activities and play the moral police on Valentine's Day.

'Moral policing is against Islamic values and fundamental liberties. It violates personal dignity and privacy, which is forbidden in the Quran and Hadith,' an SIS spokesperson said.

Posted in: 2011,happening,issues,religious