Kissing could get you arrested. What about farting?

About Politics, Society, ALL ARTICLES | April 19, 2006

By SAMIR HARITH

It’s that time again. Listen closely, can you hear it? The bells of the church of morality are ringing strong once again after being awoken from their long slumber by yet another “controversial” moral issue.

Last time the police force wanted to enforce morality laws among Malaysians, they set up teams of “spies” to spot “overly affectionate” couples. Now, just because a young couple decided to kiss and hold hands in public, we are once again faced with another pointless debate about what is morally right and wrong in this great country of ours.

Let’s put it into perspective shall we?

Ooi Kean Thong, 24, and Siow Ai Wei, 22, were arrested for acts, which authorities said were indecent. The couple said they were just holding hands, but authorities said they were snogging in public. This incident then led to a public debate fuelled by the ideals of both left and right wing politicians, making a big fuss involving indecent acts, human rights, western and eastern values, so on and so forth.

First of all, what are indecent acts?

For one, I can name a lot of indecent acts. Farting in a crowded car is indecent. Talking with your mouth full is indecent. Even staring at people can be considered indecent.

Now are the authorities going to apprehend me if I decide to show my appreciation of the good food by belching in a public restaurant?

Ok, let’s be a bit more specific then, sexually indecent acts.

In a country where sexual education is virtually non-existent in our schools, I find it difficult to define what is sexual, what more try to define what is sexually indecent? Does it mean acts which are indecent because they imply acts of sexual intercourse, or are they acts which are indecent towards the sanctity and holiness of sexual acts?

Apparently there are a number of our political leaders who deem holding hands to be a sexually indecent act. But honestly, how does holding hands imply being anything sexual, or even sexually insulting?

And then there is hugging.

Perhaps hugging may be a bit more suggestive but I have yet to find a person who can get turned on by a mere hug. It just boggles the mind that such normal, daily acts can be deemed to be deviant.

Let’s talk about human rights now.

It always seems that if this issue crops up, it is usually followed by a regular bashing of human rights and poor Tan Sri Talib Othman has got to weave a complex defence for human rights in Malaysia.

First of all, human rights and western values are two different things. Something which a lot of our local politicians tend to equate.

Human rights enshrine that each human being is able to live his or her life without discrimination or vindication by any other party.

I’m not saying that we have a right to hold hands and hug each other but we have a right to not be prosecuted for it. The authorities should not be so anal about such insignificant matters.

Now before we start blaming the permeation of western values for this apparent breakdown in society, let it be known that our eastern ancestors were smoking poppy and marijuana long before the westerners even knew how to sail. If anything, we influenced the proliferation of drugs in their culture.

All that I’m saying is that before we start pointing fingers at other parties, let us analyse ourselves first.

What kind of values is it that we practice, when holding hands or an innocent peck can result in an arrest? Is it this kind of reactionary overkill value we want our children to practice?

Personally I don’t think people should snog each other in public. But I don’t think they should be prosecuted for it either. We should all set our own limits and not do something just because we “feel” like it, ignoring the sentiments of others.

For the record, I have heard stories of people sucking face in public view, but were not apprehended or even told off, so it’s a pity that this young couple was arrested for holding hands.

–
SAMIR HARITH is a contributing writer for theCICAK.

Samir is a quasi-idealistic, semi-religious and somewhat liberal person who enjoys the company of cats and those who can tolerate him.

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it’s a pointless debate all right. and then there’s screaming too. if shouting and screaming are so indecent, then maybe we should just ban sports events, concerts, and everything in between. how much worse can it get, really?

I think that it would be even sillier to be implementing rules on what can be considered decent or otherwise. It’s a wholly subjective matter, morals.

I agree with you saying that before we start pointing our fingers at others, we should take a look at ourselves first. That’s really true. Making the difference starts with changing ourselves for the better I guess, instead of telling people off for supposedly acting immorally. After all, it’s rather hypocritical to do that, because when we point out the flaws of others, we’re making assumptions that we don’t have those flaws ourselves.

Comment published by zhi wei on 20 April 2006.
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Another reason why I’m hesitant to return to Malaysia. Sigh.

This is worse than our anti-bikini laws in the east coast.

Check out Jerai MP Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin’s comments on this issue.

He said, “We want to show that Malaysia practises Islam Hadhari. We welcome the guidelines (on public display of afffection) because we want the younger generation to be well-mannered. We don’t want to be like the West which has no values. We don’t want to follow the Westerners who are road bullies, selfish and don’t love others.”

WHAT?!

We should protest by making-out in front of city hall!

xoxo

Comment published by Poh Si on 20 April 2006.
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Hmmm… holding hands, hugging and kissing in public is illegal? Does that include parents holding the hands of the children as they cross a busy street? If no, why not? And can anyone tell if it’s a parent holding a child’s hand, or a relative holding a newphew’s hand, or grandpa holding his grandson’s hand? Seems like quite a slippery slope has been created in the effort to enforce this law.
My only other comment is this: Hugging can be quite a turn-on, depending on who you are hugging and why… I suggest we all begin a search in earnest to find the appropriate hug-ee.

Comment published by Mark on 20 April 2006.
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Here here to that, Poh Si!!!

I guess I’m just a selfish Westerner who road bullies…

Comment published by Donna on 20 April 2006.
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I actually think the govt is conducting a very deliberate programme of social engineering. By enforcing laws which seem prudish by western standards, they hope to raise the “morality threshold” for the next generation of Malaysians.

Comment published by cicaklaut on 20 April 2006.
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Alright, fair enough, some people do get turn-ons by hugs, but even so, an innocent hug generally does not lead to a one-night stand….

Now we hear that Ong Ka Ting has been tasked to draft some new ‘what-is-decent-what-is-not’ guidelines for enforcement…

Whatever for???!!

C’mon, give the Malaysians more credit than that! Its not like we drop our pants and do it in public on a regular basis.

Comment published by cyber_tapir on 21 April 2006.
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In Islam it is considered improper to be in the same room with another man be it you are even touching each other or not. It is their religion and somehow one way or another the other rule was loosen abit little by little when time goes by for the Muslims. It seems to me this “rule” was also meant for the other races since we are “Malaysians”.
(Speculation) Maybe the enforcers thought if other races are doing it later the Muslims will follow (Resonances Theory). So lets make sure no one does it!

One question : How do you even define the word indecent behaviour? Touching another genders skin accidently? Showing a little affections to the other gender? I agree with Samir that farting is a type of indecency because IT DISTURBS OTHERS. (Get my point?)

Comment published by sringangel on 21 April 2006.
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it is useless to inforce these laws on the public. do they naively believe that a law against indecent behaviour in public can prevent rape or any other crime? y don’t we just ban women from walking in the streets since it would keep women away from men and thus prevent rape?! we can’t control what ppl do behind closed doors and it is useless to make laws that only show how closed minded we are. is islam about exerting extreme control over human behaviour? change must come from within and so does decent behaviour, if u only behave decently just because you’ve been told or forced to, it defies the purpose of religion and moral values.

Comment published by Liew on 21 April 2006.
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Apparently in Iran, they tried to impose moral values on the people by having a ‘morality ministry’ but apparently it backfired, now the Iranians are more rebellious in their anti-establishment sentiments. Women are wearing their headscarfs as far back as possible, and since they can’t go out in public, more stuff is being done behind closed doors….

Comment published by cyber_tapir on 21 April 2006.
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If kissing or holding hands in public could get someone arrested, i would love to see these so called ‘law enforcement officers’ to check out the cinemas in KL, preferably the seats at the behind corner of the cinemas. Under the syariah law, there is the offence of ‘khalwat’, i don’t see any reasons why this narrow minded principle should be enforced equally to all races? It is totally absurd. Shouldn’t we be allowed to have our freedom of expression? well, we are in MALAY-sia..who am I kidding here?

Comment published by Meng on 23 April 2006.
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yeah sure why not….i wont have any problem seeing my grandson kissing some girl in KLCC park(i`m being sarcastic ere!!!)

Comment published by joe on 24 April 2006.
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As a person who has been raised in the U.S., which is technically supposed to be a bastion of rights and freedoms, I have always been leary of “moral police” policy. Many times in America we have found the loudest and most adamant voices against sexual freedoms sometimes are the ones who have something to hide. Does anybody remember the Jimmy and Tammy Baker story? Someone should check into what behaviors the Malaysian leadership are into behind closed doors. I have long seen many, so called, “pious” Muslims when they are away from their home countries and really taste our freedoms to the point of decadence.

Comment published by Bobby Farlice on 24 April 2006.
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I working at a restaurant and then a couple came in and sat at a corner and start making a “free scenes”.. hugging, kissing, main ‘ringan-ringan’ things.. other peoples, childrens, customer so ashamed to look at that couple.. so, as a worker in that restaurant, can you guest what i did? At first, I just busied around there, hoping that this couple won’t continue their “indecent behaviour”, but futile. Then, after I myself blushing try not to watching them, I sound directly ” If you two nak buat, buatlah kat rumah, janganler buat kat sini.. x nampak ker ada budak2, mak2 orang, bapa orang tengok?”, then the girl nodding, but the guy macam bengang jer..
Conclusion of this story, we as Malaysian have morale and culture in our society, if what you do in the perspective of society is bad or ‘indecent’, that behaviour cannot be accepted, although ‘you’ at that time think ‘it is your right to do that’.

Comment published by ajasian on 29 April 2006.
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Getting arrested for it is a bit too far-out. Yes, getting arrested to make us malaysians aware that we should not practice ‘obscene acts’. But it’s normal in the society nowadays. Though, there needs to be a certain limit to show our love to our partners.

Comment published by saran on 30 April 2006.
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[…] an Thong and Siow Ai Wei at the DBKL Magistrates Court. Read past article by SAMIR HARITH Kissing could get you arrested, what about farting?

Posted June 8, 2006 under Phot […]

Comment published by theCICAK » To hold or not to hold on to your rights on 8 June 2006.
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So, what was the outcome at the court on 01 June?

Comment published by Colin Charles on 10 June 2006.
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