Feeling Tipsy Are We, PAS?

ARCHIVES 2009

By admin-s On Aug 27, 2009

By G. Krishnan

Let me first dispense with the argument that I frequently hear from many Muslims and non-Muslims alike: since some of the restrictions such as on alcohol use by Muslims do not affect non-Muslims, we should not make it our business. You see, there at least one very basic flaws with this argument. (Please note I said “at least” one flaws; I’m sure some of you can think of other ones too.)

I supposedly live in a secular nation. Policies that contradict the spirit (pun intended) of that secular identity of the nation threaten the rights of all citizens – irrespective of one’s religion. This should not be too complicated and confusing to comprehend. But it seems to go right over most of the politicians like Hassan Ali and his brigade of moral purist who want to dictate to other citizens how they should live their lives. This is not too far from having some the moral police peep into peoples bedrooms to see if they’re not doing anything that these apparent perfect people thing others should not be doing.

And any policy that diminishes the rights of our fellow citizens diminishes all our rights. If we accept anything else, then we enable politicians to create different class and categories of citizens with different types of rights and privileges. And we have had enough of that, haven’t we?

According to the likes of Hassan Ali, for example, religious authorities should be able to impose restriction on alcohol sales in convenience stores in Malay majority areas. Isn’t this a clear example of how such bizarre measures violate all our civil liberties? Aren’t the proprietary rights of the business establishment being compromised by restrictions associated with one religious group? Aren’t others not of the same religious persuasion being deprived reasonable access to otherwise legal goods and services when convenience stores in some areas are prohibited from selling such goods? The point is, such policies do affect all of us – whatever our religion or whether or not we even have one.