Love was in the normally smog-laden air of Kuala Lumpur this afternoon as several couples exchanged hugs and kisses in front of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) office.

The lovey-dovey event, which also saw many roses changing hands, was a protest organised by DAP Youth.

It followed a recent court ruling that a young couple caught for allegedly embracing and kissing at a public park in the iconic Twin Towers three years ago could be charged with indecent behaviour.

The couple - Ooi Kean Thong, 24, and Siow Ai Wei, 22 - have since denied any wrongdoing and claimed that they were issued summonses when they refused to bribe the DBKL officers.

This afternoon, as the lovers locked themselves in each other's arms and planted kisses on cheeks, some 20 DBKL enforcement officers and police personnel kept a close watch.

All that public affection also attracted a group of curious onlookers.

The protestors also carried heart-shaped placards that read: 'Mind your own business DBKL' and 'We have every right to kiss and hug'.

What's the problem?

Among the prominent lovebirds present were DAP Batu Gajah parliamentarian Fong Po Kuan (left) and her boyfriend Tan Chen Hoon.

"What is the problem with young people kissing and hugging? It's a way to express our affection. It should not be an offence," she said.

DAP Youth leader and Lobak state assemblyperson Anthony Loke Siew Fook said kissing and hugging were personal choices.

"It cannot be seen from a legal context," added the politician, who was there with his girlfriend Alicia.

Although without a partner, DAP Bandar Kuching parliamentarian Chong Chieng Jen also voiced his dissatisfaction.

Chong, whose wife is in Sarawak, is now in Kuala Lumpur to attend the Dewan Rakyat session.

Amorous couples

"We want to send a message to local governments to mind their own business. Morality should not be enforced through legal means," said the lawyer by training.

Chong (left) stressed that even if the government wanted to enforce moral policing, local councils should not be empowered to handle this.

Local governments, he added, should be focused on uplifting the facilities of towns and cities and not be on the look out for amorous couples.

As for the summonses issued to the young couple, Chong said this was the work of overzealous officers who wanted to impose their morality on others.

"Morality is very subjective. It is not practical to have a set of laws particularly on morality," he added.

Yesterday, the cabinet directed the Housing and Local Government Ministry to define what conduct amounted to indecent behaviour under the laws.

This definition of indecent behaviour would then be implemented by all local governments and local authorities once it is approved by the government.

According to the ministry, all local authorities had been instructed not to enforce such by-laws for now according to their own interpretation and discretion.

Uniform law

The protesters said that while they opposed public indecency, the current law was too vague and liable to abuse and should not be enforced by local authorities.

"This is a manifestation of Islamisation of Malaysia without respecting the rights and freedom of the non-Muslims," they said in a statement.

Last Tuesday, the Federal Court - the country's highest court - ruled that city hall could pursue indecency charges against Ooi and Siew, saying kissing and hugging was not the norm for Malaysians or other Asians and was only acceptable by Western moral standards.

The Bar Council spoke out against the ruling, saying displays of affection are common here and that indecency charges should only be applied to maintain public order, and not because behaviour had offended individuals.

The couple are due to face the charges at city hall's court in June. If convicted, they could be fined up to RM2,000 or jailed for up to a year or both.