I first read of this news on Little Green Footballs.  The antics of the Pas led government in the state of Kelantan is giving the impression that Malaysia is a backward country.  Kelantan is backward but the rest of the country, where Islam is not choking progress, is not.  But I think it won’t be very long before the rest of the country regresses to the level of Kelantan.  Already the religious police are cracking down on entertainers for their revealing clothing,  rounding up Muslim couples in parks or hotel rooms, and rounding up Muslims in pubs.

Malaysia is celebrating 50 years of independence on August 31, but instead of producing a Bangsa Malaysia (Malaysian race) we have become more deeply entrenched in our various ethnic groups.

Muslims and non-Muslims do not interact as closely as they used to do twenty or thirty years ago.  I think this is a sad development indeed.  And I blame all this on the rise of fundamentalist Islam or the Arabisation of Islam in Malaysia, with the culpability of the coalition government.

The non-Muslim political parties in the coalition are a disgrace.  They roll over and yield to the Muslim led majority in the coalition whenever laws, despite infringing on the Constitution, are passed.  Look at what happened to Lina Joy’s right to practice the religion of her choice.

There is nothing to celebrate on Malaysia’s 50th anniversary.  All the patriotic songs, and the multi-cultural events being showcased during the celebrations are just  elaborate illusions cloaking the deep rooted dissatisfaction among those who feel discriminated upon.  I won’t join the “Merdeka!” chorus this August 31.