Prostitution in KB: Be more realistic, PAS
MAPublished: Aug 29, 2006 8:06 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
The Star has reported on the existence of widespread prostitution in Kelantan, not least in Kota Baru, the Islamic City itself. Regardless of whether the report is accurate, it is interesting to note the response of the PAS leadership
Quote: 'State tourism committee chairman Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah, who is also a PAS central working committee member, has dismissed the allegations, saying that since the state does not have discos or nightclubs, how can vice exist?'
It shows just how naive and simple-minded PAS leaders are. You don't need a rocket scientist to tell you that just because discos and nightclubs do not exist, therefore there is zero vice. Grow up, and welcome to the modern world.
Assuming the report is accurate, it shows that PAS leaders are in denial. The police spokesperson (the state acting CID division director) has already acknowledged the existence of such activities, and the difficulties of enforcement. But PAS has chosen to close both eyes and shut both ears. (My guess is, in desperation, they'll next try to find a scapegoat in BN.)
The bigger picture is, perhaps this shows that the more you suppress, the more you drive the people towards more extreme and more illicit activities. This is nothing new, but PAS and its utopian, Wahhabi leaders would never see this.
PAS - and all religious authorities in this country for that matter - should adopt a more realistic attitude towards sex and gender relations before we turn into another hypocritical society where prostitution and related social problems such as drugs and Aids slowly threaten and destroy societies from within.
As many Muslims have rightly argued, when it comes to the 'war on terror', Western powers need to look at the source of the problem. I believe the same logic applies even stronger to the case of conservative Islamic attitudes towards the lifestyles of modern society and gender relations.
The more conservative clerics try to naively suppress and vilify everything 'liberal' instead of educating and guiding with patience. Hence, the more serious and explosive the problems become. Sweeping them under the carpet would then be dangerous.
Quote: 'State tourism committee chairman Datuk Anuar Tan Abdullah, who is also a PAS central working committee member, has dismissed the allegations, saying that since the state does not have discos or nightclubs, how can vice exist?'
It shows just how naive and simple-minded PAS leaders are. You don't need a rocket scientist to tell you that just because discos and nightclubs do not exist, therefore there is zero vice. Grow up, and welcome to the modern world.
Assuming the report is accurate, it shows that PAS leaders are in denial. The police spokesperson (the state acting CID division director) has already acknowledged the existence of such activities, and the difficulties of enforcement. But PAS has chosen to close both eyes and shut both ears. (My guess is, in desperation, they'll next try to find a scapegoat in BN.)
The bigger picture is, perhaps this shows that the more you suppress, the more you drive the people towards more extreme and more illicit activities. This is nothing new, but PAS and its utopian, Wahhabi leaders would never see this.
PAS - and all religious authorities in this country for that matter - should adopt a more realistic attitude towards sex and gender relations before we turn into another hypocritical society where prostitution and related social problems such as drugs and Aids slowly threaten and destroy societies from within.
As many Muslims have rightly argued, when it comes to the 'war on terror', Western powers need to look at the source of the problem. I believe the same logic applies even stronger to the case of conservative Islamic attitudes towards the lifestyles of modern society and gender relations.
The more conservative clerics try to naively suppress and vilify everything 'liberal' instead of educating and guiding with patience. Hence, the more serious and explosive the problems become. Sweeping them under the carpet would then be dangerous.
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