YOURSAY 'Can you define indecent behaviour in public? Holding hands? Putting the arm around a woman's waist? Kissing? Hugging?'

PAS: Fines for KB quartet not related to Islamic law

your say Swipenter: Who is to judge what is indecent behaviour? Giving your girlfriend a piggy back ride and having a chat in a car in public are deemed indecent?

I am sure many, like me, have seen more than once Bangladeshi men holding hands in public when walking together. While this is quite normal in Bangladesh, but it could be seen as ‘indecent' here.

PAS, stop justifying the actions of your MPKB (Kota Baru Municipal Council) enforcement officers. Non-Muslims don't need your moral police.

Each community may have their own ways to deal with what is deemed as "indecent behaviour" of their own kind and it is not necessary that the punishment or behaviour be codified.

Moral persuasion or sense of shame can be just as powerful to curb indecent behavior.

Labis Guy: What indecency are you talking about when a girlfriend rides on the back of the boyfriend in the open just for fun. What is wrong with that? Please explain.

Come on, we are living in the 21st century and not in the era of the Malacca Sultanate.

Tholu: We should accept PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali's clarification. Even states with secular laws make it an offence to behave indecently in public areas. Would anyone not be furious if a couple makes love in a park?

If the quartet were summoned for khalwat (close proximity), it would have been a matter for the Kelantan religious authority to act and not the MPKB.

MCA should have known this but it conveniently chose not to know in order to instill fear and agitate the non-Muslims.

Rahman: Just refer to the notice of summons. What is it all about? Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) also has similar by-laws that is enforceable on every offender. Even Singapore has similar laws on decency in public places.

Sabahan: Just do not use Islamic standards when interpreting "indecent behaviour". Otherwise, it is syariah law disguised as secular law, and no one will be fooled. The summons on the hairdresser does not help either.

Kheng: If I remember correctly, sometime back, DBKL also summoned a Chinese couple at the KLCC park. I don't know how many remember this incident.

Perhaps, Malaysiakini can refresh the reader's memory to this event by creating a link to the news article.

Blind Freddo: By what standards was it classed as indecent behaviour in a public place? And what right does MPKB to charge anyone with a criminal offence?

Are they the new keepers of public morals, or typical Malaysians wanting to interfere in other people's rights to determine their own lifestyle. More lies from PAS.

Mirror On The Wall: Indecency is indecent no matter what faith or no faith one has. Can people have sexual intercourse in the open for all and sundry to watch even they do not have a religion? I don't think so.

Amigo2010: Come on, what is the fuss with this problem? Do you like your children or family members to behave indecently in public?

This is not about hudud law but civil law too. Come on BN-controlled media, especially those by MCA, don't use this scare tactics to gain support from the Chinese community. We want a decent society, too.

Onyourtoes: Can you define indecent behaviour in public? Holding hands? Putting the arm around a woman's waist? Kissing? Hugging? If kissing and hugging, is it lustfully or affectionately?

I am sure you can find more indecent behaviour in Astro programmes. Do you impose fines on Astro?

Geronimo: In order to avoid similar problems which may arise in the future, the Kota Baru Municipal Council may consider recruiting non-Malays as part of their enforcement team.

Since Kelantan is an Islamic state, it is very hard for non-Muslims to differentiate between what is a normal moral issue vis-a-vis a religious one.

Pakatan Rakyat had better come out with some guidelines before they start to lose votes. As for me, it is immaterial one way or the other, I am still going to vote for Pakatan as we have much bigger fishes to fry compared to, say, a girl riding piggyback on a boy.

ABBN: PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, please do not undermine the people. Two wrongs do not make a right. Don't try to create more lies to cover one like Umno. To err is human. Even saints make mistakes.

Be a gentleman, admit it and find ways to immediately rectify it. Don't behave and do what Umno does.

This is exactly why the people hated most and are abandoning  Umno now. Does PAS want that, too?

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .