Which non-Muslim tourist entering Malaysia would even think of carrying their marriage certificates with them when the Tourism Ministry has never issued a travel advisory to that effect?

On Harassment by religious officers worrying

Blonde Retiree: It is with dismay that level-headed Malaysians read of the ugly episode against American couple Randal and Carole Barnhart who were subjected to a humiliating search by the snoop squad enforcement officers from Langkawi's religious department after being erroneously accused of 'khalwat' (close proximity).

Despite Randal's pleas that as Christians, they were not subjected to Islamic laws in Malaysia, the religious officers insisted on viewing Carole who was clad only in a sarong.

Herewith, I wish to raise a few points:

  • Even if the Barnharts were Muslims, these religious officers should have displayed moral behaviour and civic mindedness by allowing the couple to dress appropriately instead of resorting to heavy-handed tactics which smacks of a desire to ogle at a sarong-clad Caucasian lady. After all, this was a religious bust against a suspected khalwat case and certainly not al-Qaeda terrorists or would-be suicide bombers with dynamites strapped to their abdomens.

  • On the Kedah religious officers demands to see the Barnhart's marriage certificate begs one to question. How many married non-Muslims in Malaysia carry their marriage certificates with them? Similarly, which non-Muslim tourist entering Malaysia would even think of carrying their marriage certificates with them when Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism has never issued a travel advisory to that effect?

  • By storming the Barnhart's condominium, was any search warrant issued to the religious enforcement officers to conduct such a raid? If none was issued, could the Barnharts counter sue them for trespassing private property?

  • Malaysia prides itself as a moderate Muslim country. What image are we projecting when religious enforcement officers storm a condominium of an elderly retired couple aged 62 and 61 accusing them of khalwat? We're in Malaysia, not Taliban Afghanistan.

  • Taxpayers' money are being spent on these vice squads. The money is better spent repairing potholes. These religious enforcement officers would be doing a better job if they spent more time cleaning up the growing pollution of Pulau Payar which threatens the natural charm of the islands surrounding Langkawi, or preventing diesel smuggling or combating corruption rather than snooping on people's bedrooms at 2am. It is as if they have nothing better to do.

  • The programme, Malaysia - My Second Home, is supposed to be an income churner for Malaysia. Unfortunately, one American couple look most certainly of dropping this plan. Will other international guests follow suit? Or may other impending second homers be deterred to make Malaysia their second home having observed the holier-than-thou behaviour of these religious officers? More importantly, on the commercial front, would would-be foreign direct investors be frightened away? How many job opportunities have just been lost due over zealous religious police?

  • Malaysia is not a police state. Under Pak Lah's leadership, we are enjoying more freedoms these days. Granted, that freedom comes with responsibility, however, with a certain former leader accusing Pak Lah's governance as a police state, the raids by the religious enforcement officers seem to give credence to this accusation. If not that, Malaysia appears to plunge into a fundamentalist Muslim nation.

    • On Nazri: Umno members immune to graft laws

    RR: What on earth is this so-called special privileges for Umno members? Umno as a premier political ruling party is setting the example of nurturing corruption and a corrupt system for the young generation.

    As an old man, I wish to appeal to the PM and other leaders not to continue this mockery. Please remove this special privilege of corruption within the party and inculcate good values in your members so that the country could be saved from total destruction in the future.

    Louis Lew: This is yet another illustration, along with many others, that Umno leaders are above the law and can do whatever they want. This is totally unacceptable to any person with common sense. Furthermore, coming from the de facto law minister, this dashed the little hope I hold for Pak Lah's anti-graft pledge. How low are we going to go? Maybe we indeed have two sets of laws - one for the commoners and another for the politically well-connected (read: Umno members).

    The post contested in Umno has everything to do with the public because the winner is likely to be appointed into the cabinet or stand as a contestant for parliamentary or state seats. The money politics must be stopped, or else, like one prominent politician once said, someone will be able to buy Malaysia easily and inexpensively.

    Malaysia seriously and urgently needs a rotation of ruling parties and the transfer of power. The opposition should start educating the rakyat the importance of change and put forward a solid plan for a better Malaysia for all Malaysians, especially those who cannot afford a computer and have no access to malaysiakini.

    If the current bunch of jokers are allowed to continue running our country, it is not difficult to imagine what Malaysia will look like in 2020 - just look at a few of our neighbours today.

    On Tearful Zakaria tells why he needs mansion

    YSM: Has the ACA ever investigated how a Klang municipal councillor and politician can afford a house like that. What would the cost of such a renovation be, including the land? Perhaps RM1 million conservatively, when it's all furnished and done up? Zakaria's satay business must be quite lucrative. Being connected to Umno, it will not be surprising that he will have many government contracts.

    On Pak Lah's 3 years: What's his score?

    Concerned Malaysian: How dare the government tell its rakyat they are open and transparent? What happened to the booklet that is to be published to explain to the rakyat all the queries raised?

    Indeed the silence and the non-action on the part of the government is deafening. I can surmise the government of today as utterly "lembab". How much longer will the PM cling on to the media spin doctors to continue to make him look good? At every turn, the spin is getting out of hand and it is making him and his goons look just as they are... utterly stupid.

    Dear PM, you have gloriously claimed that you are a PM for all Malaysians, I really applaud that statement, so please, start acting as one. I think all Malaysians irrespective of race hope that you will act as one.

    On Revamped ethnic relations module revealed

    HL Too: According to the Higher Education Minister, Mustapa Mohamed, the new ethnic relations module aims at reducing racial segregation in our public universities. However, this is not likely to succeed. The earlier module on ethnic relations written by Universiti Putra Malaysia academics may have stirred some controversy and ironically damaged ethnic relations instead. But this controversial book is also an accurate reflection of the racist policies of the UPM administration.

    The attempts by the university authorities to downplay the bullying tactics of some of the student leaders are also accurate barometers to gauge the racist temperament of the campus. As long as the university authorities continue to practise such policies, ethnic relations among the students cannot be improved. To promote inter ethnic relations within the campus, the Higher Education Minister should start by removing the UPM vice-chancellor.

    On Ramadan break for school canteen

    Pttan: First the pea-brain Ishak says that non-Muslim food might come in contact with non-halal parts and Muslim children might get contaminated.

    Then he says that Hindu children should refrain themselves if they find that beef is brought by Muslim children. Any simpleton will see that in extrapolation, either Muslim children can choose not to eat the non-Muslim food or all food should be banned so that the Hindus are not offended.

    Ishak should be sacked and not allowed to poison our children minds further. Sensitivity to religious beliefs goes both ways.