COMMENT | Ramadan is supposed to teach Muslims about humility, patience, and spirituality, but the displays of excess, harassment and control by the Malaysian authorities, tell another story.

Instead of restraint and self-reflection, we are burdened with conservative politicians wanting to bully the public, both the Muslim and non-Muslim members of the rakyat.

The perennial problems of conservative Muslims criticising canteens which remain open for business and “non-Muslims failing to respect the right of Muslims to fast” will crop up without fail. Schools are the usual target. Are factory and workplace canteens free of the same scrutiny?

Outside of school, we have religious officers from the state religious authorities, patrolling the streets, checking the popular restaurants and fast-food outlets, to catch Muslims who are eating.

The third observation is the proliferation of expensive breaking-of-fast (iftar) meals at leading hotels and restaurants...