While the acceptability of the Bon Odori Festival scheduled to be held in Selangor next month appears to be shaping up as a clash between royalty and clergy, the reality is that it is a clash between democracy and theocracy.
For far too long, the religious authorities in Malaysia, and the politicians behind them, have tried to exercise their will upon the people by trying to get Muslims to submit to the clergy's will, in the guise of submitting to God's will.
Islam was never meant to be thus. Coming as an evolution in religion, Islam specifically set out to differentiate itself by not having a clergy system.
In Islam, every Muslim communicates with God directly, without the need for an intermediary. Not for Muslims the concept of absolution or excommunication by an imam or ustaz.
Learned scholars may give their opinions; but, at the end of the day, it is for the believer to exercise his conscience.
Are Muslims allowed to practise another religion? No, of course not. But what constitutes "practise"? Islam places great emphasis on intention — if there is no intention, there is no sin.
But the religious authorities in Malaysia seem intent on imposing their will and criminalising the innocent actions of Muslims, even when there is no intent to do anything other than participate in activities that, through social evolution, are now cultural practices.
Take for instance, yoga. Outside of Hindu adherents, the world knows and practises yoga as a form of exercise.
But, here in Malaysia, the religious authorities chose to declare yoga haram based on how it is practised by Hindus, not by how it is seen by the rest of the world.
Did Malaysian Muslims stop practising yoga? Of course not; they referred to it by some other religiously innocuous name, and carried on as usual. So, other than flexing their muscles and asserting their dominance, the religious authorities did not change anything, other than to force Muslims to use their creativity to get around the decree.
In their intentions, the Muslims remained steadfastly Muslim. They became no more Hindu than would a Hindu, Buddhist or Christian who wears a baju kurung or baju Melayu and attends iftar with friends during Ramadan.
Yet, if approached from the conservative perspective, both the clothes and the meal have religious origins, and still do. If non-Muslims clerics were to take the same approach as their Muslim counterparts, where would be that great Malaysian multicultural togetherness for which we are famous, and that which we celebrate and revel in?
The purpose of religion is to guide adherents on how to live a peaceful and productive life in this world; and this includes how we relate to and get along with our fellow human beings.
Living apart, or in a cave, needs no religion. If the religious authorities are sincere in wanting to help nurture good Muslims, they should work towards nurturing adherents to be good Malaysians —who are friendly, understanding and active members of the Malaysian community — rather than instructing them to keep their distance during celebrations and even funerals.
But in order to achieve this, we need religious leaders who are worldly and multicultural in their outlook, to bring people together, not drive them apart.
They should take a page from our Rukun Negara, which enjoins all to "guarantee a liberal approach towards our traditional heritage that is rich and diverse".