Kuala Lumpur: Open debates on religious differences should be avoided to prevent division among Malaysia’s multi-racial and multi-religious communities, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar. He emphasized the importance of maintaining harmony and preventing discord among the nation’s communities by refraining from such public discussions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Na’im expressed his full support for Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang’s stance against public religious debates. He noted that these discussions could potentially confuse and create tension among the public, and stressed that the priority should be to uphold and strengthen the unity and solidarity of Malaysia’s diverse communities.

Mohd Na’im delivered these remarks at the ERAT Ramadan 2025 Programme, organized by the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), in collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Department Malaysia (JAKIM) and Warisan Ummah Ikhlas. This event served as a platform to reinforce the message of unity and prevent any actions that could lead to societal divisions.

Previously, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang had voiced concerns regarding the potential negative impacts of open religious debates, warning that they could incite tension and strain relations among Malaysia’s multi-faith communities. This concern aligns with the recent media reports about a scheduled debate between Tapah MP, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, and independent preacher Zamri Vinoth, planned for March 23, to be hosted by Dewan Bahasa Tamil Malaysia.