After Perak, is the BN now eyeing Selangor? That is the question that seems to be on quite a few minds.
Malaysians politics is now in a state of flux, with both the BN and the Pakatan suffering a series of setbacks.
This is a piece I wrote for Asia Times:
No winners in Malaysia’s political tussle
By Anil Netto
PENANG – The political situation in Malaysia is in a state of flux as both the ruling coalition and the opposition alliance face mounting challenges and uncertainties.
A huge rally in which thousands of Malaysians gathered in the streets of Kuala Lumpur despite a tight security clampdown demonstrated once again that a large number of Malaysians want greater civil liberties and are increasingly disillusioned with the current political system dominated by the Barisan Nasional (BN) ruling coalition. Full story here.
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The way everyone is talking, it is as if ALL non-Muslims are alcoholics. Everyone is talking about the “rights” of non-Muslims. As if ALL non-Muslims are for beer-drinking and gambling. As a devoted Buddhist and parent of 2 kids, I too am concerned about the problem of excessive/habitual consumption of alcohol and the issue of alcohol consumption amongst youths. The Anguttara Nikaya VII.39 of the Buddhist Suttas talks about the virtues of the “5 precepts” and one of them being “abstention from intoxicants”. The reason for abstaining from intoxicants is its effect on the mind and Buddhism, being the practise of perfecting the mind, very naturally discourages the consumption of alcohol. While it is important that devotees cultivate mental discipline (mindfulness) through meditation, as a devoted Buddhist, I support measures that promote a “mindful society” and that includes measures that limit the sale of alcohol not necessarily only in “Muslim-majority areas”. I’m not sure what other religions’ view on alcohol is but I see this issue in Shah Alam not as an issue of Muslims vs Non-Muslims, I see it as an issue of those who are pro alcohol-restriction (on the basis of their religious views – not necessarily only Islam) vs those who are anti alcohol-restriction.
Let’s look at the issue from a non-religious angle. Excessive, habitual and irresponsible consumption of alcohol is bad. We all know that. We’ve seen youths hanging out next to 7-eleven, sipping their beer and acting cool, at 2am in the morning. We’ve seen car crashes at 3 am in the morning, car (and occupants) damaged beyond repair. We also know that smoking is bad. We take measures to deal with it. We impose high taxes on cigarettes (like most countries in the world), we forbid the sale of cigarettes to minors (already implemented in Msia for some time now), we print nasty pictures on cigarette packaging (by law), we forbid the sale of individual sticks, and we forbid cigarette-advertising. Similarly, alcohol also need to be restricted. We already impose high taxes on alcohol and we also control through licensing. Such taxes and restrictions exist in many parts of the world (eg. Scandinavia, Utah, etc.). In Sweden, you can’t sell alcohol to a minor. Any responsible government should continue to look at ways to deal with the problem and that may include limiting the widespread availability of the product. I see it as an issue between those who see the need for additional restrictions vs those who want to be able to, and want others to be able to, easily get their beer anywhere and at anytime of the day, or night.
So I, a devoted Buddhist and a concerned parent, supports the stand that this country of ours need to put in place measures to help overcome the problem of excessive/indiscriminate/habitual drinking especially amongst youths. If it means restricting the sale of beer at retail outlets, so be it. I also support any measure that has the intention of helping to overcome the problem of excessive/indiscriminate/habitual gambling which has led to other problems like loan-sharking. If it means restricting the no. of 4D outlets, so be it.
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I believe in the next GE , PR is gone.
with PAS imposing its will on others, I believe they will loose in next GE.
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Hello Anil
Understand that MOH do not have enough Tamiflu even for 5% population.Minister is very secretive about this shortfall….
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PR leaders,pls focus on more important issue such as BN’s plot to grab back Selangor state,be united n lets not splited by BN govt..alcohol n gambling,real a big deal?
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