|
>From The Singapore Straits Times
27th November 2000 Mosque on one side, bars on the other
Bangsar's Paradox The sight of Muslim women flaunting their sexuality openly explains why members of the mosque are angry By Leslie Lau IN KUALA LUMPUR THE Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq mosque is just like any
other mosque
in Malaysia. Fed up with the sight of Muslim women in sexy, skimpy clothes at nearby nightspots, the Masjid Abu Bakar As-Siddiq mosque's authorities are taking action. -- ENRIQUE SORIANO Muslims converge there for their Friday prayers every week in the well-heeled Kuala Lumpur suburb of Bangsar. But less than 100 m away lies a 'hot spot' of no less than
50 pubs and
dance clubs frequented by the city's affluent young people. Versace, Prada and Armani are the clothing brands of
choice. For many
of them the tighter the fit the sexier the feel. The only problem is some of the young women who parade
down the strip,
some in skimpy outfits, are Muslims. For mosque administrator Abdul Rahim Sulaiman, this has
gone too far.
'They have just no respect. That is why we have written to
the
authorities complaining about the number of nightspots,' he told The Straits Times. Last week, the authorities started taking action in
Bangsar.
A raiding party comprising religious officers and police
detained two
Muslim women, including the daughter of the former Governor of Malacca state, on suspicion of alcohol consumption and for indecent dressing. They were wearing short dresses that revealed their legs,
shoulders
and hair. Local Islamic law gives authorities wide discretionary
powers to
determine what exactly is considered indecent dressing. 'It is okay if there are one or two pubs in the area but
it is too
much to have so many. You must respect us,' Mr Abdul Rahim said. Islamic law is rarely enforced in places like Bangsar
where some
prominent Malay politicians and businessmen and their children hang out. Fed up with the sight of their fellow Muslims drinking in
public and
Malay women openly flaunting their sexuality in tight-fitting and revealing clothes, the mosque has campaigned vigorously against the clubs. A prominent Malay businessman told The Straits Times: 'It
is actually
unconstitutional. The laws of the country give us our freedom. This is ridiculous because before you know it they will say a woman clad in jeans is indecent.' Police say that they were forced to act because of
complaints from the
mosque, whose committee pressured authorities to scale down a New Year's Eve party two years ago. Earlier this year, police in nearby Petaling Jaya also
assisted
religious department officers in arresting a Malay singer for indecent behaviour. She was performing at a popular pub when religious
department officers
walked in to check for Muslims consuming alcohol. Finding no Muslims drinking, they decided instead to
arrest the singer
for indecency because she was considered by the officers to be provocatively dressed and because she was performing in a place where alcohol was served. The charges were later dropped after Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said such a prosecution would be ridiculous. Islamic indecency laws are rarely used by authorities but
when used
they are directed mainly at women. Observers have attributed the recent raids to the
political
environment in the country. Even though the Bangsar mosque committee denies any links
with the
opposition Islamic Party (PAS), it sells the party's Harakah and other anti-government literature inside the mosque compound. Bar owners are still optimistic that the religious tempest
will pass.
'We are a legitimate pub and we follow the rules so there
is no
problem with us,' says Mr Frank Murray, the manager of Finnegans Irish pub where the Malay women were arrested. |
