There seems to be a lot of criticism over the Jawi raid on a discotheque in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. The question is who are the majority? Malaysians who support the raid or those against it?

Malaysia is a democratic country. Would the government take an action that is so hugely unpopular that it would be 'political suicide'? But then, Jawi's anti-vice measures have more support than many realise.

Religion does sell when it comes to elections. The winning political party in the US has strong ties with evangelical groups there which preach anti-abortion, anti-cloning and anti-gay marriages. In Iran meanwhile, the country's hardline fundamentalist party won by a landslide in the recent elections.

In Malaysia, religion, too, does help win elections which is why Umno came up with the concept of Islam Hadhari.

Most people don't relish the idea of religious police looking over your shoulders and that's why Jawi raids are directed not at middle-aged grown-ups but rather mainly at teens and young adults.

Since it is mainly the grown-ups who vote and not the under-21s, Jawi raids actually pull in the votes in the long run. Not to mention the large number of parents who resent their teenage children's interest in fashion and music to the detriment of their education.