HUMAN rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim has hit out at PAS-ruled Kelantan for seeking cheap publicity by imposing alcohol ban at hotels which has reportedly led to the cancellation of several Chinese weddings next year.
She observed that the state wanted to emulate Kedah which has in recent times prohibited and revoked licenses of number forecast operators following which a four-digit (4D) player took the matter to court and won.
“This is when the Kedah Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Not) would claim credit that he had tried to fulfil his obligation as a Muslim by banning activities deemed haram in the state but unable to do so because secular laws are beyond his control,” ranted Siti Kasim in her latest Facebook post.
“But followers who don’t use their brains fell for it when they agreed that Malaysia are filled with both jahil (ignorant) and kafir (infidel) people.”
‘Head I win, tail you lose’
For context, a hotel operator has confirmed with China Press recently that he had received a notice from the Kelantan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JAHEIK) about the alcohol ban two weeks prior and had immediately contacted non-Muslim customers who had upcoming reservations to explain the situation.
Some customers also called in to enquire about the situation with some opted to cancel their wedding banquet scheduled for next year.
“So, Kelantan is repeating the same charade with the hope that the affected hotels will sue the state of which the latter is likely to win the case hands down as non-Muslims in Malaysia are never prohibited from consuming alcohol,” projected Siti Kasim.
“When this happens, the state government will then blame it on the worldly laws while using the court outcome to campaign for their political stride as defender of Islam vis the upholding of syariah law.”
In the Orang Asli advocate’s opinion, the best thing for PAS ruled states to do is not to indulge in business while “investors should refrain from pumping money into those states for they will eventually tie you down with numerous rules and regulations”.
“Only when investments cease to come into those states would they understand the hardship faced by so-called Islamic nations in the world.
“Aside from this be a good way to teach them a lesson, another move is to change the people/party who helm the state during elections although it seems that both the Malay and non-Malay communities in PAS-ruled states seem contented to be tied down.”
Elite Malays
In a related development, Siti Kasim also slammed “cigar -smoking and alcohol drinking” elite Malays for being oblivious about the socio-political development in the country.
She expressed shock from her recent interaction with this wealthy class that they are clueless about the Act 355 (the Syariah Courts [Criminal Jurisdiction] Act 1965 which gives jurisdiction to Syariah Courts to deal with offenses under Islamic law), the much-publicised Mufti (Federal Territories) Bill nor the ban on beauty pageants because they live in a different world.
They live in an enclave of special clubs and smoke the most expensive cigar unlike me who is satisfied with cheap ciggies.
My message to elite Malays who have both money and are well-connected is not to take for granted that their lives will not be affected by new laws or assume that those apprehended for drinking alcohol or khalwat (close proximity) are couples who frequented budget hotels.
Look around the world, my friends, for the long hands of the law will ultimately get to you … don’t think that your lives are on another level for you’re still governed under the same law especially when the law changes or evolves with more power vested on so-called religious people and (conservative) authorities.” – Focus Malaysia
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