Dear Editor,
FOR A country, which prides
itself on diversity, we should seriously reconsider how our freedoms of
expression, religion, and culture may be scaled back if Pakatan Rakyat wins the
General Election.
PAS has advocated gender
segregation, dress code requirements, a crackdown on high heels and lipstick,
banning movie cinemas, and a ban on Valentine's Day, all of which the party
views as immoral.
PAS has consistently called
for a ban on all concerts, and recently objected to a performance by South
Korean megastar PSY, who was booked to perform at the Barisan Nasional Chinese
New Year open house in Penang. Within Pakatan Rakyat, the component parties are
deeply divided over religious issues, such as the role hudud law.
KULIM assemblyman Lim Soo
Nee recently caused controversy by breaking strict dress code rulings imposed
by the PAS government in Kedah by allowing women to wear revealing costumes
when they performed at event to usher in Chinese New Year.
Many interpreted PSY’s
performance in Penang as a misuse of public funds, but Minister Datuk Seri Dr
Ng Yen Yen claims that PSY's performance was not paid for using public funds or
BN's money.
DAP secretary-general Lim
Guan Eng called on concert-goers to wear yellow, green and red colors to show
their support for DAP when they attend the open house, prompting Deputy Prime
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to accuse him of trying to politicize the CNY
celebrations.
If we try to imagine what a
Pakatan Rakyat federal government would look like, it’s possible that PAS would
have a huge level of influence. If PAS has its way, there would not only be no
concerts, unisex hair salons, and public performances at shopping malls, but
strict dress code requirements.
If hudud law was adopted
federally, non-Muslims would have to conform with major restricts on their
lifestyle and personal choices. As a Muslim, I think it’s important for people
to have the freedom to practice religion freely and express their own culture.
Many of us want change, but
not the kind of change being offered by Pakatan Rakyat. Let us hope that
Malaysia will still be a country where people enjoy freedom of religion and
cultural association after the General Elections.
Best Regards,
C.K.YONG
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