Controversial Freedom Festival 09 - Malacca

It is splashed out across many political blogs and Malaysiakini on the Freedom Festival 09 in Malacca.

There were many comments that slammed the Jabatan Agama Islam Melaka for their presence and the rules set upon them.

Many have resorted to push the blame to the highest office that granted the permission and passed the regulations of the entertainment event - Datuk Seri Rais Yatim was held accountable by these bloggers.

Among the claim by a particular writer (Deepak Gill) that was published in Malaysiakini and NST is :

Also, non-Muslims were subjected to dress rules normally invoked in respect of the aurat issue and directed only at Muslims. My companion, who was dressed in a spaghetti-strap top, was told by security personnel she couldn't attend because she was immodestly dressed. The fact that she was a non-Muslim was immaterial, we were told. (NST)

Perhaps the Malacca State Government and Datuk Seri Rais Yatim should offer an explanation. If it is true that the civil liberties of the non Muslims were infringed, then the Government of Malaysia must offer an explanation.

One possibility is the misinterpretation of rules and regulations by the security personnel of the organizers and the religious department officers.

Whatever it is, there is no need to jump so quickly into conclusions and analysis like this one in MarGeeMar

This has been going on in all states under the BN/Umno rule with the tacit approval of their lapdogs MCA, MIC, Gerakan et al. This was reported by Deepak Gill in a letter to Malaysiakini. What's obvious here is that BN/Umno is trying to do discreetly (Talibanization of Malaysia) what certain extremists elements within PAS want to do overnight.

I didn't know that is happening under BN and UMNO's rule. As far as I remember, UMNO and BN coalition never separate people according to gender in malls, cinemas and UMNO has never ordered any girls not to wear skirts or shorts when they go out to the public.

But Pakatan Rakyat's partner (you know who) implements that and I wonder who are the yes-men (lapdogs if we use Pakatan's vocab) in PR ? Are they not DAP, PKR and their massive group of supporters ?

Anyway, I just spent 5 minutes searching for articles related to the event in blogs. A check on the non political bloggers who attended the event, I found the contrary judging by the pictures of the following blogs.

1. Freedom 09 Rave @ Melaka
2. G1 @ Freedom Music Festival 09 Melaka

Quite skimpy outfits there and there was a girl at the party with no straps (link 2) on her top too (contradicting what Deepak said).

I stopped searching after 5 minutes to write this piece. Might add more links later but I choose not to pose those pictures here to respect the privacy and rights of non political people and party-goers who were there for a fun night.

However, I join your call to the Government to provide an explanation on this. After all, we need to listen to justifications from both sides.