Di petik dari Sumber MALAYSIA TODAY hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com The End of Beer…What’s the next target? Toto Magnum?By Zhang ML
Khalid went on to say that the state will draw up self–regulatory approaches with respect to the sale of alcohol and beer by next month. In the meantime, you can bet that the debate and statements by various quarters, in particular the ones playing up strife between PR partners, are bound to continue for a while yet. However, my relief was qualified. Khalid, in his wisdom as state leader, must have acknowledged that the actions of enforcement officers of the Majlis Bandar Shah Alam (MBSA) had been illegal. The MBSA had clearly exceeded their authority when they seized beer worth RM620 from a 7-Eleven convenience store. There are no by-laws in existence which allow local council officers to seize beer from convenience stores, unless the outlet is caught selling beer to Muslims or minors. There are, however, Syariah laws. In particular, under the Selangor Syariah Criminal Enactment 1995, it is a crime for Muslims to consume or sell alcohol. The MB must have also realised that consultations with various stakeholders are essential, before the formulation of any by-laws pertaining to this issue. Calls have been made not to re-invent the wheel, and to learn or adopt measures adopted by other countries.
William Leong, a PKR MP must also be commended for an excellent and illuminating article posted on Malaysiakini. He looked at the issue not only from the legal, religious and political perspectives. He examined it from the correct standpoint, that is, from the perspective of social concern or social problems. This was what he described as the rising problem of alcohol abuse amongst Muslim youth. It was heartening to note Leong’s call for what he calls a Malaysian Renaissance – a change in our mindset, values and views, to stop looking at every issue from the perspective of religion and race, imagined or otherwise. Mindless assumptions The earlier statement by MBSA read “the sale of alcoholic drinks including beer will not be allowed in Muslim-majority areas.” Whatever mindset and views or value system that had given rise to that kind of statement or ruling should be abhorred. This brings to mind immediately questions of “What about the rights of the minority?’ and “Does this mean that the majority segment of the community has the right to decide what is a culturally or socially acceptable practice, and therefore has more rights than the rest?” In addition, its underlying assumption is abhorrent: that Muslims are not capable of abiding by the rules of their faith of their own volition. The MBSA seems to think Muslims need more rules and restrictions to force compliance, and to make good, faithful Muslims. I dislike labeling anything or anyone, in my daily attempts to try to make some sense out of what is happening in Malaysia. But I see the storm over this issue as another attempt, feeble as it may seem, at policing morality or what is culturally acceptable.
A stillborn 1Malaysia As I mentioned, there are already Syariah laws in place to allow action to be taken against Muslims who flout them. Is that not enough? Does the State have to make policies and decisions that make the environment completely free from temptations, so to speak? Pluralism will see a quick end in this new 1Malaysia before 1Malaysia will ever come to be. As one of the letters to an editor says, “Rather than being forced to comply, men of faith should be convicted in their hearts to refrain from indulging in acts that are prohibited by their faith”. Islam means submission to the will of God or Allah. An oft-quoted verse in the Quran says ‘there is no compulsion in Islam”. Then why continue to perpetuate the value of compelling obedience to God? It is not my intention and desire to question state Syariah enactments making it a crime to drink. But shouldn’t issues like drink be left to the religious conscience of the Muslim individual? Would an all- knowing Creator God have His subjects obey His laws and precepts, simply because His rules say so? Or do you think an all- knowing Creator God would rather have His men and women of faith obey His rules out of genuine faith, that an all- knowing Creator knows what is best for them? Legalism binds people, and keeps people of faith in bondage. Divine Love sets people free… I end by therefore urging the Selangor State Government to exercise restraint in its intended exercise of formulating whatever state laws or rules or by-laws that pertain to the sale of alcohol. The State must keep before them the beacon of a multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia. Furthermore, if issues like alcohol consumption fall into the category of religious matters, then they should, strictly speaking, be left at that. The Syariah enactments should be more than enough to regulate the lives of people professing the Muslim faith. But the fundamental rule remains, that accepting the ‘majority principle’ is definitely a wrong step. |
Thursday, August 13, 2009
It was with some relief that I heard on the evening news that the MB of Selangor, Khalid Ibrahim, announced that there will be no blanket alcohol ban in “Muslim-majority” areas in Selangor. (Not that I am a lover of drink and beer! … far from it).
The Council later returned the seized beer to the owner, but not before a fuming Ronnie Liu, the state Exco in charge of local government, had ordered them to do so. And of course he cannot be faulted, as he was clearly right from the standpoint of the law.
Are not our Muslim brothers and sisters capable of exercising restraint regarding the buying and consumption of alcohol and other banned items? My question is thrown at those who think that there is a need to have additional rules. There are also those, more importantly, who profess to speak and make policies on behalf of ALL Muslims living in Malaysia.
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