Sometimes a big fuss gets kicked up because people do not stop and think before they react. Let's all settle down and think a while. What has the call for stoppage of EPF funds from investing in tobacco, alcohol and gambling have to do with an Islamic state?

Whatever happened to plain logic? It is not a call to ban partaking in any of these so-called vices. The issue is, should public interests be vested in their promotion?

The answer is painfully simple. Smoking causes cancer, and is especially harmful to non-smokers who against their will become passive smokers. Drinking harms the liver, but in a public viewpoint that is a personal decision. Gambling, well, that in itself is another arena where merits and demerits are debatable (many countries have legalised gambling corporations who donate large sums to charitable causes, in fact a great way to rechannel wealth to useful public concerns).

Without delving into the question of ethics and morality, the simple question of not allowing EPF funds to be used to support activities that may cause harm to the public is a valid one. It is one thing to allow alcohol to be consumed, that is a question of individual rights.

The question at hand is really far different. If I contribute to EPF then I would not want it being used to support industries that clearly have some negative impact on the community.

What's the ruckus? I hope DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang, of all people, should be able to see that. I would be more than happy to see smoking banned in all public places, but that is just my opinion. I would be happy to see both DAP and Barisan Alternatif lobbying for that.