Kissing & Hugging
I believe, most of our parents spent quite some time in the parks during their courtship period or when they want to “pak toh” (cantonese)
However, watch out if we, this generation want to “pak toh” and decide to go to the park. You may be charged for committing an offence if you are caught holding hands, kissing or hugging in public places. These are most likely be interpreted as “indecent manner”.
Kissing and hugging per se should not be made an offence. Do not push the young people to go “underground”.
Press Statement by Fong Po Kuan, MP for Batu Gajah and Vice President of DAPSY on 6.4.2006 in Parliament
No Kissing and Hugging Leave a Serious and Negative Implications in this Multi –racial and Multi-religious Society
The recent decision by the Federal Court which ruled that kissing and hugging
was not the norm for Malaysians will leave serious and negative implications in this multi-racial and multi-religious society.
In the said decision, the highest court of the land decided that local
governments have the authority to enact by-laws to prosecute “indecent manner” in public.
Two students, Ooi Kean Thong, 25 and Siow Ai Wei, 23, were allegedly caught
hugging and kissing at the KLCC Park, and have been charged for committing an
offence under the by-law.
DAPSY views the Federal Court decision as an endorsement of the power of local councils to be the moral guardians of the public.
The interpretation of the terms “kissing” and “hugging” is worrying. What
exactly is the definition of “indecent manner” according to the law?
Kissing and hugging are expressions of affection universal to humankind, and they’re not restricted to or bound by Western or Eastern values. The fact that these expressions of affection have not been a problem in the past and has now become a punishable offence, points to the degree of intolerance and
narrow-mindedness on the part of the authorities.
This ruling will give a bad of impression of Malaysia as a restrictive and ultra conservative destination of holidays and it might discourage tourists from coming here.
Hugging,kissing or holding hands, by and large, are subjective in the eyes of the beholder. What constitute as an “indecent behaviour” by one person, may not be to another. We hugged and we kissed to show our affections to our loved ones, to our husbands and wives and to our children. Likewise, we do hugged our parents, siblings and close friends or a gentle kiss on the cheeks of our lovers, they don’t mind showing their affections in public places. Nothing wrong with that, nothing indecent about it. Why are we going backwards to the Dark Age as there is a law says we can’t do all these in public? Come on, it would be TRAGIC as someone is trying to play God when we are progressing towards vision 2020.
Comment by Jim — September 11, 2006 @ 5:17 am
hugging and kissing, by the laws of islam, is actually forbidden. those acts can only be done by husbands and wives and between family members(if i’m not mistaken). so even when you pak toh you cannot kiss kiss and hug hug or pak toh in a secluded place. so conservativelah.
Comment by eric — October 27, 2006 @ 7:42 pm
But I have seen Muslim leaders hug and kiss each other (on the cheek) without any problem?
How else are young people to express their love for one another? How are they to find out if they are compatible with each other?
Comment by Artorios — June 12, 2007 @ 6:33 am