Nazifuddin wined and dined, what’s your problem, asks Bebas

The secular activist group says moral policing appears 'alive and well', and condemns the media's coverage of Nazifuddin Najib.

Media coverage of Nazifuddin Najib in Taiwan.

PETALING JAYA: Secular activist group Bebas has condemned the media’s hounding of Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, the son of former prime minister Najib Razak who was seen in photographs in allegedly intimate moments with a Taiwanese actress.

Bebas spokesman Azrul Mohd Khalib said the report, first published by a Taiwanese news outlet before it was picked up by several Malaysian news portals, was proof that moral policing was alive and well in Malaysia.

Nazifuddin was pictured dining with Taiwanese actress, Celia Chang at a restaurant in an upmarket shopping district in Taipei.

The couple reportedly wined and dined for hours at the restaurant.

Azrul said the focus on Nazifuddin was no different than what he said was the vilification of an aide in the Youth and Sports Ministry for being “true to himself”.

He was referring to Numan Afifi, who has spoken in defence of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Similarly, Azrul said the criticism of a PAS leader against Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman for wearing “inappropriate workout attire” also reeked of moral policing.

“And now, a son of the former PM is being judged and condemned on social media for behaving less than a model Malaysian Muslim,” he told FMT.

He said Nazifuddin’s drinks and food were being scrutinised, his choice of companionship condemned and his activities subjected to instant moral review and judgment.

“A person who chooses to be a public figure has a right to privacy but it is often a reduced one. But in this case, it was his parents who decided to be politicians and be public figures.”

“In the interest of justice, privacy and personal dignity, the same standards of protection from moral policing should apply to everyone with any exceptions, at all, to be few, far and strongly justified.” -FMT