your say 'We should support couples in love and nurture them the right way rather than trying to shun them from society.'

V-Day romps elude PAS' morality rounds

Md Imraz Muhammed Ikhbal: I applaud Nasruddin Hasan and PAS Youth this time for the manner in which they approached the relevant couples and counseled them. As Muslims, we are indeed required to remind each other of the sins we commit or about to commit.

Unmarried couples should not be alone on their own in the dark as it paves the way to impulsive temptations that may lead to illicit intimacy. In Islam, such intimacy between couples have to be preceded by marriage and everyone should learn to at least respect that if not observe such moral virtues. I encourage others to also do likewise.

We should support couples in love and nurture them the right way rather than shun them from society. That would be the first step of healing this nation from social ills like pre-marital sex, STDs, out-of-wedlock pregnancies and ultimately baby dumping.

I condemned Nasrudin before but having read this piece of news, I change my stand and he attains my highest respect on this particular count.

Satinah Osman: Why does PAS Youth want to make a public exhibition of the 'illicit' behaviour of Muslims. Is it not bad for the rest of the Muslim community who are decent folks? Youths are youths anywhere in the world. They want to be like everyone else.

Talibanising the lives of young Muslim youths could lead to resentment of the authorities, who themselves have been having publicity over the illicit activities among some of their upper-crust religious members.

Patriot: Dear PAS Youth, you have just destroyed the credibility of PAS as a tolerant political party. We all love PAS for its righteousness but we detest your self-righteousness.

Religion is between God and you - God or Allah does not need your help. Also, by doing your moral policing, you don't get Bonus Link points to go to Heaven. Sorry, my family and I will not vote Pakatan Rakyat as long as you have a party like PAS in the coalition.

If PKR and DAP cannot control PAS now, what assurance have we that PKR/DAP can control the party when Pakatan is in Putrajaya. Indonesia is 90 percent Muslim country and its parliamentarians voted for a secular country. So what are you guys trying to do?

I will vote BN (the devil) I know, than PAS (the angel) I don't know.

Saeed Rahman: I strongly feel that Nasrudin's team has conducted a noble effort (a Muslim's duty) to meet and counsel unmarried Muslim engaging in the act of 'close proximity' (a sinful act in Islam). If such an effort is 'wrong' in the eyes of other Malaysians (due to lack of understanding), then PAS is prepared to lose 'votes' from them.

Anonymous_5fb: Between PAS and Umno, I go for PAS anytime because of their consistency and sincerity in their beliefs, though I may disagree with some of their approach and methodology.

Changeagent: The key point is that the PAS checks were not sanctioned by any local authorities, religious departments or state governments. However noble their causes, different groups or organisations must recognise that they do not have the authority to enforce any law, nor take matters into their own hands like vigilantes.

There is simply no need or justification for PAS to replicate the functions of the state religious department, just as there is none for PKR or DAP to duplicate the police or armed forces. Imagine the chaos if we had more self-appointed vigilantes roaming around our streets.

ACR: Many Muslims take it as their obligation to moralise amongst the ummah. If there is some positive take on this news, it is PAS' taking a loving approach in its campaign. However, it is worth realising a few issues:

(1) these young couples are at an age where they could not discriminate between right and wrong (from a legal and religious perspective) - lecturing them is futile;

(2) education is the best remedy for curbing vice, thus it is a long-term process, and short-term measures like raiding doesn't solve the problem;

(3) I am sure that the 100 Muslims caught on Valentine's Day is the daily average - hence the focus on V-day is worthless. In fact with all the negative views on V-day, it is likely fewer Muslim youths are cuddling in the dark on that day.

NP: The PAS Youth's effort is self-explanation. I don't think we need to question them whether they are busybodies. They merely doing good deeds in the eyes of their own religion. Nothing wrong with that, and their action is not similar to the religious authority which we have heard so much of.

Anonymous_408d: It is one thing that PAS Youth were polite on their "rounds", but as they themselves say, some couples did not like the intrusion, however courteous. That should tell them something.

And, of course, the couples who listened to them, immediately left because they didn't want to be spied on anymore. It is best that PAS Youth look to delivering their preaching in a less invasive manner. Unless they succeed in locking up all girls and women Taliban-style, couples will meet and fall in love.

So while advising them on abstinence is not wrong, they should do it in a way that makes the couples feel comfortable. Hold fun gatherings with two-way dialogue with young, hip, trendy counsellors for example. Young couples might relate better to young people who dress like them and share in their interests.

Anonymous_5fb: I just wonder how sure are they in identify exactly who is Muslim and who is not during their morality rounds. Some Malays look Chinese/Indian, some Chinese/Indian are Muslims. Are they subject to PAS Youth's 'morality check' too? What happen if you pounce on couples who look Malay but are actually not Muslim?

The Islamic way of monitoring morality is not full proof, either you agree to it or not. Education which stresses on compassion, love and understanding is the better option to bring up our children, even this is not full proof as well.

Ida Bakar: "There were some who had were muka masam (visibly unhappy), but they were not outwardly hostile to us. Or none that I know of."

Perhaps they just won't vote for you in the next general election.

Some of the couples are out in the open talking and holding hands and yet they get nabbed by these snoop squads. Perhaps the only way forward is to pander to the hypocrisy of these 'religious' authorities - private homes, five-star hotels or just pay proprietors of budget hotels to look away.

Kopi O: If not for the public uproar, there would not be such a 'courteous' approach. Say whatever you like Nasrudin Hasan. It is still 'moral policing'.

 

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