When Kartika opened her can of beer, for a refreshing brew that ‘reaches the parts other beers cannot reach’, little did she realise the truth of that slogan, and opened a can of worms instead. Her personal choice was classified a state crime and Malaysia courted international condemnation.
The authorities must be satisfied they wrecked a young lady’s life, destroyed her marriage, separated a father from his children, and shamed her immediate family and community. They placed a financial burden on a father to support his adult daughter and invited media intrusion, plus the ire of international watchdogs and feminists.