FREEDOM OF SILENCE EXPRESSION

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