COMMENT A Muslim practising his religion is a personal act between him and God.

Muslims do not need to be told by the government how to perform their duties to God. The population in Turkey, for example, rejected tighter Islamic laws because of this reason.

How a Muslim conducts his personal life is also of no concern to the government, and personal sins should not be made (legislated) crimes.

A Muslim who wants to drink or dance or enjoy life can always ask for God's forgiveness for his human failings because God is all merciful and compassionate, and loves his creations.

Deputy minister in charge of Islamic affairs Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki's remark that I was nostalgic over a time when Malays drank whisky and brandy is out of context.

This only describes the freedom that was prevalent in the 1950s through to the 1960s for Muslims to choose the lifestyle they want to lead.

Why, in these modern times, is there a blackout of P Ramlee movies, peer pressure on women to cover themselves up, separate shopping trolleys, or restrictions on how loud we can laugh?

Jakim is pushing us back to a time and a culture alien to Malay values. What's next? Ban on tapai (fermented tapioca or rice)? Ban on toyshops that sell dolls for children?

Who is bringing Malays towards a repressive and fearful society, if not Jakim?

Why spurn Shias?

Furthermore, why are Malays recently taught to spurn the Shias? The Malaysian government signed the Amman Message in 2005 which, among other things, recognises all eight legal schools as valid Muslims, including the Shia.

How can national unity be achieved when Jakim seeks to find transgressions, rather than working out ways to make believers of other faiths admire Islam by uniting Muslims as well as non-Muslims?

Religion is a state matter according to the constitution and Jakim is an unnecessary expense when the money can be better spent on public services, such as better medical facilities, which are badly underfunded.

TAWFIK ISMAIL is a member of the group of eminent Malays G25, and the former MP for Sungai Benut. He is also the son of the late deputy prime minister Ismail Abdul Rahman.