Sex abstinence campaign is not oppressive. Moral policing is OPPRESSIVE

Sex abstinence campaign is not oppressive, Selangor MB says

By Melissa Chi

February 13, 2011

SHAH ALAM, Feb 13 – Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim (pic) said today that the state sex abstinence campaign is not meant to restrict freedom, but to educate the Muslim community.

He was speaking at the third series of the ‘Anti-Zina’ campaign here, an activity under the Selangor ideal generation programme (GeMS). The programme was set up under the education, higher education and development of a model being committee, an initiative by the mentri besar to curb social ills in the state.

“I hope that although there are heated discussions on the internet that say all these are efforts to restrict freedom [it will not be viewed as that].

“If we want to be free, we have to be respected,” he said.

He admitted that the effort does not seem favourable to many, but he said it is a task, not for the popular vote, but for the sake of the Muslim community.

“This is an effort to solve a social problem, this is not an effort to restrict society’s movement. This is also an effort by Muslims to help the Muslim community, so we think that it is necessary,” he said.

“I hope people won’t say that Selangor is backdated in terms of not giving space to freedom,” he said, referring to the abstinence campaigns in the US that had been going on during the Bush administration and were heavily funded by it.

Khalid insisted that the state encourages socialising, discussions and relationships because “these are part of growing up and this will give us a chance to make ourselves better”.

“It’s not that we want to be harsh, this is for us to advise one another, to correct a humanity issue,” he insisted.

He said the programme targets the youth, as they are among those who are easily influenced to engage in activities that are against the norm and the wishes of a “religious and prudent society”.

Khalid cited a report that private employees, college students at public institutions, and high schoolers are now the main groups of people caught for being in close proximity (khalwat) by every state Islamic Religious Department in the country.

“Statistics show that on average, there are 84 babies born out of wedlock every day and that is seven births every two hours. It is estimated that more than 20,000 Malay babies who were born out of wedlock are unregistered in the country,” he added.

He emphasised that the more concerning fact is that about 470 couples have premarital or extramarital sex every day, although he did not specify the source of the data.

“We hope that with the steps taken today in Selangor, we can lessen premarital sex among the youth, and curb babies born out of wedlock and baby dumping, especially among Muslim teenagers,” he said in a press release.

Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) had launched the ‘Mind the Valentine’s Day Trap’ campaign, aimed at preventing Muslims, especially teenagers, from celebrating Valentine’s Day, which falls on February 14.

PAS Youth has also planned a similar campaign after backtracking on its earlier declaration to launch a crackdown on Muslims celebrating Valentine’s in PR states.

Its chief, Nasrudin Hasan At-Tantawi, reportedly said that the state governments in Kedah, Kelantan and Selangor had instructed local authorities to work closely with the police and Rela to check on immoral activities that day.

The movement is also working closely with the Islamic Religious Department in Penang to monitor sinful activities.

Nasrudin added that the movement would preach and distribute flyers promoting a sin-free lifestyle at lovers’ hotspots in every state.

A fatwa issued by the National Fatwa Council during its 71st conference almost six years ago stated that “the spirit of Valentine’s Day celebrations is associated with elements of Christianity and vice activities that are prohibited in Islam.”

Both the city Islamic Department (Jawi) and Selangor Islamic Department (Jais) have banned Muslims from celebrating Valentine’s Day, calling it a Christian tradition in a Friday sermon.

When asked to comment about random raids conducted by the religious departments, he said the state government had already asked them to be “very tactful” and also that their approach be “soft and more educational”.

“I think being loving is not a sin, that’s what we feel but you have to do it in a proper manner,” he said.

Khalid said that he disagreed with the raids and emphasised educating the Muslim community about such sensitive issues, instead.