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Malaysia has always prided itself as a moderate Islamic state to the world. Recent debate on drinking laws in the country has challenged such an image and questioned national identity.
When Pas, an extremist party won the election in Selangor it is all set to implement a conservative Islam while Prime Minister Datuk Najib Razak from UMNO the ruling party is promoting the policy of 1 Malaysia to harmonize ethnicity and promote multiculturalism. But the problem gets complicated when the government is reminded that for the past three decades it too has promoted Islamization and modernization.
The Malaysian Shariah Lawyers Association and a host of NGOs have issued a statement not to harass and pressurize,'those trying to enforce Islamic Law'. The canning of Kartika Sari Dewi is to educate the public especially when she has pleaded guilty and wants to be canned and get on with her life! But issues will not get settled considering, a fine of Rm.5000 or imprisonment of 3 yrs and 6 lashes for consuming alcohol compared to Rm.4000 fine or 2yrs imprisonment and 6 lashes for forcing one's wife to be a prostitute!
No wonder the world is laughing at Malaysia and asking, why a woman is made an example of torch bearing Islam and no muslim man has ever been caught drinking. Even former PM Mahathir remarked, if the country was going to celebrate its upcoming independence (31st Aug) by whipping a woman. Because if the wiping goes ahead, then workers, owners, shareholders, directors and even govt officials in alcoholic business would be next in line for canning.
The Sultan of Brunei who travels with his bottle of wine and sons and daughters of ministers attending dinners would also stand under the law of God. Genting Highland would have to sack all its muslim workers, Malaysia airline will have to discontinue its in flight wines, duty free shopping would be different many tourist and specially muslim ones from western countries wonder if they too would be prosecuted.
