FORMER de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has called on the federal government to stand up against extremist preachers in the country who he claims are decapitating the economy by first ruining tourism through their hardline outlook.
He said the government needs to fight back and reclaim the country from the threshold of religious extremism.
It is understood that his message on X was triggered by the debate over why Malaysia lost out to Singapore which had lured American pop star Taylor Swift to exclusively hold her concerts there and not anywhere else in Southeast Asia.
Regarded as a voice of progress, Zaid, a corporate lawyer, had courted controversy in his political career in which he tossed himself about from exiting Umno to joining PKR and then DAP, forming the now defunct Kita, and then courting Gerakan before expressing his desire to rejoin Umno.
He wrote that many reasons have been offered on why Phuket in Thailand is the preferred tourist destination over Langkawi.
"The answer is fun. Phuket is a place that gives you the experience of having fun,” said the former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and ex-Kota Bharu MP.
"There are many shades of fun, of course, but that’s why Phuket is Phuket. It does not define or limit the fun that you may partake in or prefer.
“The visitors decide on the many things they want to do there. It’s a holiday place, so naturally, people want to go to a place that offers them a variety. They are there to enjoy themselves
"Langkawi is the most beautiful island; make no mistake, but unfortunately, it is in Malaysia. Here, having fun is frowned upon. Fun is immoral to some people. Life should not be enjoyed in a certain way as it may result in immorality or undesirable sinful behaviour," said Zaid.
Zahid pointed out that Malaysia has problems with concerts, performing arts, fashion shows and beauty contests.
"We have issues with nightclubs. We have no Taylor Swift and no mega performances despite the benefits such concerts bring to the economy."
He then questioned how it is that a progressive 21st century country that describes itself as modern has becomes hostage to some religious preachers who want to ban everything enjoyable.
"Why are we held hostage by those who wish to kill fun and by doing so, slowly decapitate our economy and tourism business.
“I suggest the cabinet seriously consider pushing back this conservative thinking from taking a stronger hold in the country. The politicians should not be scared of reversing the preachers' expanding influence. They need to fight back," Zaid asserted.
Zaid pointed to the current situation in Saudi Arabia where it is known that the natural oil reserves will not last.
“So, they move to modernise the country. They are catching up with other countries to develop the global business of tourism and sport,” he said.
He stressed that the Middle Eastern country is fortunate to be led by a “visionary” crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
Zaid said that Malaysia also has a modern thinking progressive monarch in the present king, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim whom he described as an ally of the government who can transform the country to be like Dubai or Singapore.
“Don’t waste the opportunity. Don’t be timid. More importantly, such transformation not only benefits the economy but changes the character of our people. They will be more thinking people and not just mindlessly follow the preachers."
During his tenure as the Barisan Nasional MP for Kota Bahru from 2004 and 2008, Zaid had tried to overcome the fundamentalist Islamic influence of PAS in his home state of Kelantan but failed to achieve the objective. – The Vibes, March 15, 2024
