Liberated Mind, Heart and Soul

Pardon me if I sounded rude, I don’t think the ratio decidendi of recent ruling of Court of Appeal was really appealing, but rather appalling! Quote Datuk Gopal Sri Ram in his decision “If the courts were to interfere, we might as well manage the schools”. “We have to interpret the constitution sensibly and in the context of a multiracial society”. These statements are highly dubious. Two things could be inferred; One, Government now has the right to determine what kind of religious clothing would be acceptable. No offence, consider the impacts and precedents set in Court of Appeals, which later would bind future High court cases, if suddenly a headmaster decides in his capacity that tudung (veil) is no longer acceptable, then, all students must now take off their tudung. KYSM are known to put this into practice. Girls were told explicitly to take their tudung off shall they accept the offer to study there. Secondly, Government can now decide to what degree you can practice your religion. That’s what I got from reading between the lines. Serban is unacceptable to one school because it resemble extremism in practicing the religion. Or resemble PAS more likely. In the future, decent dress code would correlate with degree of religiousness and categorized as follows:

A) Non practicing
B) Moderate practitioner
C) Not so Pious
D) Pious
E) Overtly Pious

I do acknowledge that it’s much better in Malaysia, because the decision falls under school principal's jurisdiction. Pupils still have option to go to another school that tolerates Serban. Pupils don’t have that kind of option in Singapore or France. It just reminds me of what happens in Rosa Parks Montgomery case and Brown Vs Board of Education in United States. Although it involves extreme case of racial discrimination, in essence, it’s about black students being deprived of going to schools of their choices which is nearer to their residence. Deprivation of choice based on differences. (Ours is dress code, theirs’ were skin color)

In Malaysia, a lot of us were told to accept broad definition of decent attire. To be more accurate, some quarters within the Authority impose their definition of decency. A year a go, there were some complaints on RTD officers (Road Transport Department). They have refused to conduct driving license test of certain people whom they claimed to wear improper attire. What constitute decent attire? Long sleeve with tie? Would jeans and t-shirt be acceptable? Or women have to wear baju kurung/kebaya all the time to look decent? What constitute skimpish dressing? Hijab?

In principle, can government decide for their citizen, what should they wear? I believe the same principle should apply across the board. If government can't tell you which fashion to choose or what color shall fit you, they also should not force their version of decency. It’s not that people go naked in RTD for their driving license test. Malaysians still possess common sense! Are we not?

Then, most probably, what PAS Government did in Kelantan like forcing women to be hijab clad, or even what the Taleban did in Afghanistan is totally justified….Think about it.

To some people out there, don't accused me of being malas suka2 hati. I just don't have the time and heart to write and on top of everything I'm kind of away for a while in UK, enjoying every bit of civilisation.

Two days ago, I had the opportunity to join in the House of Commons evening sitting. Nevermind all the US style of security check, I thought it was a refreshing experience, looking at democracy at work. There was huge debate going on Retrospective Pension Plan and banning of fox hunting in England and Wales. . . . . . and guess what? The were a lot of cheap shots exchanged by these British MPs. Sebijik like our debate practise back in UiTM. Hilarious! looking at how the debate went in what we assumed in Instituition that houses many good debates for centuries, I want to believe that our UiTM debaters posessed the potential to be at par if not better than those MPs!

Lets hope that UiTM do much better in Cambridge debate. In Oxford, we were caught off guard with British Isles issues like prosecuting police for shooting wrongly. It's true when Tubs told us to read their newspapers 2 weeks in advance. I literally surf BBC website everyday, but who can guess the paramount issue would be some shooting in England? Right now in UK, I have been reading the 'cheap' Independent Newspaper every single day. I'm all prepared for Fox hunting or even smoking ban in London. Can't wait for Cambridge!!!

P/s: I hate cold sandwiches for lunch. Everything is cold. Banana is cold, their choc chip cookies, even their milk cold! I'm going to MSD for Hot Malaysian lunch. Care to join?