HUMAN rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim has lashed out on the purported extreme moral policing by the Madani government which is spearheaded by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).
In fact, she will take up the challenge to attend Chinese New Year, Deepavali or Christmas celebration should the Guidelines for the Participation of Muslims in Celebrations and Ceremonies of Deaths of Non-Muslims and Visits and Organisation of Ceremonies at Non-Muslim Places of Worship becomes a law.
“I dare the authorities to charge me in court,” lambasted the Orang Asli advocate in a YouTube video in response to the proposal made by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.
“Your actions are an insult to us as Muslims and human beings to the extent that we’re treated as fools as if we’re incapable of thinking when we wish to partake an event organised by our non-Muslim friends.
“This is to further control or curtail our freedom of movement in addition to already existing restrictions of what we (Muslims) can consume or wear … If you like to manage our lives so much, why not manage my financials as well by paying off my bills.”
Recall that in brushing aside public backlash against his proposal which threatens to further ruin the already fragile state of race relations among Malaysians, Nain has stated that the guidelines are still being deliberated by the both the religious authorities and experts.
Siti Kasim further warned her Muslim brethren that should the proposed guidelines eventually become law, they are liable to be punished – be it in the form of fine, imprisonment or whipping.
“Seriously, I’m very pissed off that this Madani government dares to control us … I’m so freaking angry,” she fumed in an emotionally charged post.
“Do you know that Malaysia back in 2013 was ranked sixth from 175 countries globally in terms of regulating religion with numerous rules and law in the name of Islam as well as having ‘monopolised’ Islamic interpretation?
“Surely, the situation now has further deteriorated – in fact, worse than during the BN (Barisan Nasional) era; it’s indeed senseless to the core for the organiser of non-Muslim events to seek JAKIM’s permission to enquire if Muslims can be invited or otherwise.
“Who the hell are you to tell me that I can’t attend a celebration of my fellow Malaysian who is a non-Muslim? … I’m seriously so loss for words.”
Venting her frustration further, Siti Kasim revealed that various studies by academicians have found that the Malaysian government has the tendency to impose their so-called own version of Islamic laws which contradicted genuine Islamic laws.
“God gifted human dignity has to be respected regardless of the person’s faith, ethnical origin, gender or social status and this has been clearly stated in the Quran,” she asserted.
“What’s wrong with Muslims congratulating non-Muslims by jointly celebrating a joyous festivity or even to convey condolences to them in the event of death of a family member by personally attending the funeral?”
At the end of the day, Siti Kasim hit out at what gives government of the day the right to think that they can control what Muslims can and cannot do.
“Obviously, we know our limitation not to sing praises to Lord Jesus but we’re only there to attend the event,” she justified.
“Supposedly our actions in this world breach the rules of Allah, then let Allah judge our sins and punish us alone but not you. If I enter hell, I’m doing so alone and you will not be dragged along.
‘The Malay Muslims are not stupid and are well-aware of their limitations … you cannot simply control us because we’re born Muslins. I dread to imagine how are you going to control Muslims especially in Sabah and Sarawak which boast so many mixed marriages.” – Feb 6, 2025
