Religious enforcement not the job of local councils

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vox populi small thumbnail 'Will there be an economic safety net to cater for the sudden surge in unemployment? Where will those who've had to leave go to support their families?'

Nik Aziz moots interfaith meet on social ills

Md Imraz Ikhbal: Any laws or bans should only come into effect when the public collectively supports it.

In Amsterdam, for example, soft drugs are permitted as the society are more liberal and accept it as a way of their lives. In Thailand, prostitution is a permitted profession as the people condones the industry. In certain Arab countries, amputation of the hands are sanctioned and that is embraced by the people since they regard the crime of theft as heinous warranting a deterrent punishment.

Whatever our religious beliefs and laws we intend to introduce, if the public at large accepts it, then by democratic means, we shall have it and we can all live in prosperity and harmony. So if PAS desires hudud law, then educate and convince the public. If democracy dictates, then so be it.

Loyal Malaysian: "Section 18 (2) of the Syariah Crimes Enactment 1995 bars Muslims from working in businesses that serve alcohol."

The law ought to be respected, but its implementation raises doubts. Why only the MPSJ (Subang Jaya Municipal Council)? If the authorities wants to implement that law, do so across the board.

What about those Muslims who serve alcoholic drinks on board planes, those that work in breweries?

Vote Now! The Muslims could just quit their job if it's not in line with their religious belief. Why do we need to put enforcement on this? If enforcement is required that it should be in all areas and not only just small business. Muslims should not work in airlines, Carlsberg, and so on.

Wira: Dear Tok Guru Nik Aziz, you may impose severe laws that punish crime. However, please leave sin to between a believer and his/her God.

Patriot: The business of a city council is to make sure the services rendered such as clean toilets, no potholes on roads, working street lights, etc. What agenda does the PAS councillors have in MPSJ?

Although it is a Muslim issue, it also affects the owners, who are non-Muslims. If the Islamic authorities like Jais (Selangor Islamic Department) feels that this is against the Quran, then issue a fatwa that Muslims cannot work in places serving alcohol. Then they do the policing rather than passed the buck to MPSJ to police for them.

The true colours of PAS are now showing.

Paul Warren: It may be that in Islam it might be possible for the guardians of the religion may be required to interfere in the lives of their adherents. The believers and adherents of the Islamic faith, too, know and accept that interference.

However, for the other religions, their faith, beliefs and practice are personal in nature. How they believe, what they believe and how and what the practice is personal to them. The institutional religion itself really has no access to the individual like it might have been able to hundreds of years ago.

Anonymous1: This is an interesting and complicated topic. If from a religious sense (applicable to any religion), it is 'wrong' for any devotee to be working in 'sinful' industries, then the 'sin' should be between the individual and their respective God(s).

The complexity arises when a government is also elected based on religious grounds. Additionally, it is important how the socio-economic impact will be addressed if such a ruling is implemented, as many people will be unable to work in certain industries and thus be effected with unemployment issues.

Will there be an economic safety net to cater from the sudden surge in unemployment? How will industries fill the sudden void of human resources? Foreign workers? Where will those who have had to leave their place of employment go to in order to support their families?

Proxy voting to add to BN's arsenal against Pakatan?

Michael Angelo: The EC chairperson Abdul Aziz Yusof thinks voting in the general elections is similar to voting for club officials. If proxy voting is allowed, we might as well send a proxy to the voting station to vote on our behalf.

No need to show ICs and no need to verify the picture on the ICs, too. The same voter can vote as many times if he represents a number of voters. What a joke.

Manjit Bhatia: The Election Commission is run by a bunch of halfwits whose pockets are lined with Umno's gold. If these morons had any sense of fairness and justice at all, they would learn to be independent (yes, I know: I'm dreaming).

But the most sensible, fair and just thing to do is for the EC to ban all proxy voting permanently, especially when it has been clearly documented for decades that the Umno-BN thugs are naturally inclined to cheating at the polls, just as they are naturally predisposed to procreating lies.

Survivor: Now you know why some countries' incumbent leaders have to be overthrown by popular revolt. Because they have been in power for too long and are never going to give up their status quo. They will defend their positions at all cost, even to the extent of shooting and killing their own people.

Do you expect Umno to play fair or be different? Unlikely. People power is the only answer to this blatant disregard for genuine democracy.

Enviroman: Malaysians must rise and oppose this dastardly move to facilitate vote cheating and vote buying. The public should not sit quietly while they scheme to subvert democracy with this amendment to allow proxy voting.

Docs: What next, EC? How about implementing that only BN party logos will be printed on ballot papers and any opposition party logos will be left out. This is to reduce printing cost.

Or the rakyat can download ballot slips from the computer, mark their choice and mail them to Umno headquarters where it will be collected and forwarded to the EC for counting. What about the EC making it possible for the rakyat to be able to call their friendly neighbourhood BN rep by phone on election day and ask him to go down to the election booth and put the ‘X' mark for you on the ballot paper.

How about SMS-ing your vote to EC and make it only possible if you are voting BN?

 


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