Words on a cake - much ado about nothing

 

Christmas is around the corner. Or should it be ‘the festive season’ instead as a few would view it, for fear of using the forbidden word?

Or can we Malaysians refer it to as a ‘silly season’ where frivolous, outlandish, illogical activity or behaviour makes the headlines?

It started more than 10 years ago with air wells in a newly completed housing scheme in Kedah that some quarters claimed resembled a cross. As if it planned to infuriate certain sections of the community, the furore continued for a few weeks until the developer painted it a different colour.

Then, we had the annual Oktoberfest billed as a “pesta maksiat” (vice party) by politicians without understanding its origins, notwithstanding that it is a German cultural festival. Even local authorities supported the call for a ban citing “security reasons”.

I then wrote: “If the state cannot provide safety for citizens to enjoy their beers in a pub or a restaurant or any licensed designated place, then, all we can say is that the system has failed and its hidden hands are exposed.”

In 2017, Umno leader Jamal Yunos used a sledgehammer to smash crates of beer bottles outside the Selangor secretariat building in Shah Alam.

"If you want to drink, let (then-Selangor menteri besar) Azmin Ali and the gang, the executive councillors, drink and get drunk in their offices. But don't let the Selangor people become drunk at beer parties," Jamal was quoted as saying.

There were also isolated reports of self-appointed vigilantes going around shops ordering them to stop selling beer as if it was against the law.

In January last year, a video of Permatang Pauh MP Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan holding discussions with a Penang mall’s management on beer promotion for Chinese New Year emerged.

If I was licensed to sell beer and if I want to promote sales of my product, what’s the fuss about, you may ask.

But many, especially religious zealots and bigots don’t see it that way. Because their religion forbids alcohol, it appears that they do not want others imbibing and enjoying themselves.

It’s a matter of “If I can’t have it, I can’t bear seeing you have it.”

Is anyone really ‘confused’?

In 2016, food outlets selling hot dogs in Malaysia were asked to rename their products or risk being refused halal certification.

The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) said it adopted the ruling after complaints from Muslim tourists.

Its then director Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the name might cause “confusion” saying: “In Islam, dogs are considered unclean and the name cannot be related to halal certification.”

In 2022, PAS called on Muslims to stay away from the Bon Odori Festival due to concerns of “religious elements” at the Japanese cultural event despite Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah ordering the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) not to forbid Muslims from attending the festival.

As an act of defiance, both the PAS ulama council and its women’s wing issued statements to urge Muslims not to participate in the Bon Odori festival.

Then came the security guards who decided to play the role of guardians of faith refusing what people wore when entering government offices or establishments.

What empowered them to do so and under which law they sought to enforce dress standards remains a mystery. Or were they empowered by little Napoleons in offices of power?

The Kuala Selangor District Council did one better. It provided sarongs to those it felt were inappropriately dressed to enter its building.

Icing on the cake

The latest brouhaha about a cake shop ordering its staff not to write “Merry Christmas” on cakes it sold to customers fearing losing its halal certification.

Fortunately, Jakim clarified that all halal certificate holders face no such restrictions, including any celebratory greetings on cakes or similar items.

“Once again, we must inform that there are no restrictions for premises holding the Malaysian Halal Certification to write anything related to a festive greeting on cakes and other things,” it said.

It also reversed a previous directive that business premises that have the halal certification not to display products containing non-Islamic festive greetings.

All’s well that ends well? Not exactly. There will still be isolated incidents of self-appointed guardians of the religion or some men of cloth who will continue with their actions.

It may not be the perfect way the Almighty would have wanted, but for them, all their sins are cleansed in the name of doing good for the religion.

How do you put an end to this? Two words stand out in this issue – “sensitive” and “confused”. They are interchangeable and most times misused and abused for self-interests.

If someone is drinking liquor, it is with his money and at his peril. Why does it bother or offend third parties? - Mkini

---

R NADESWARAN is a senior journalist who regularly writes on bread-and-butter issues but occasionally delves into sports - his first love.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.