A former president of the Malaysian Islamic Medical Association has given the thumbs-down to tomorrow's debate on moral policing between advocacy group Sisters in Islam (SIS) and PAS Muslimat (women's wing), describing it as an exercise in futility.

"It also makes one wonder just who is actually 'playing to the gallery," Dr Musa Mohd Nordin said.

He stressed that discussion and dialogue by Muslim groups should be encouraged, especially when raising specific points of weaknesses in the current Syariah system and its possible points of conflict with the spirit and letter of Islam.

"If both Muslim groups are sincere and intent on resolving these outstanding issues, then they should have a dialogue with a wider participation of Muslim groups and government religious bodies," said Musa, currently a pediatrician at a specialist hospital in Kuala Lumpur, when contacted today.

"A healthy and fertile discourse should thrive towards not only a persuasion of the minds but also an awakening of the hearts," he added.

However, a debate between heads of Muslim groups arguing about Syariah laws would appear no better than a squabble between "two Muslims having a go at each other", amounting to demeaning entertainment unbecoming of discourses on religion, Musa lamented.

Public discussion on the state's role in defining and controlling morality and the use of punitive religious and municipal laws reached new heights following a Jan 20 raid on a popular entertainment outlet in Kuala Lumpur.

The issue made headlines after those detained accused the Jawi officers of sexual harassment of the female detainees.

Various groups, concerned that the state would be more inclined to police private lives when religion becomes part of the political arena, are calling for the repeal of provisions in religious and municipal laws that infringe on fundamental liberties or overlap with the Penal Code.

'Sabres drawn'

PAS Muslimat information chief Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud ( right ) will face off SIS executive director Zainah Anwar in tomorrow's debate on public morality which will be moderated by Param Cumaraswamy, formerly a United Nations rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.

Referring to an earlier interview with malaysiakini , Musa said that Mariah had acknowledged that the opposing sides to the debate had already fixed views on public morality and were not about to budge from their positions.

"So what is this event for? What's the point of engaging with anybody if you are not prepared to look at the evidences presented by the other side?", Musa asked.

"It's just two Muslims having a go at each other. With the sabres drawn well before the event, the upcoming public debate is a 'lose-lose' scenario and humiliates the izzah (dignity) of Muslims."