Enforcing Public Morality: A Discussion Panel and Debate, Kuala Lumpur

The Liberal Forum Malaysia invites to a discussion and debate between Dr. Siti Mariah Mahmud, Dewan Muslimat PAS Information Chief, Zainah Anwar, Executive Director of Sisters in Islam and Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy, Vice President of the International Commission of Jurists. The forum will be held at the Le Meridien Hotel from 08.30 am – 13.00 pm on Wednesday 27th April, 2005, and will be moderated by Mrs. Norinah Yahya.

There have been dissenting views over the role of the state in enforcing public morality between like-minded religious officials and human rights groups and between Muslims in Malaysia. These incidents have brought about not only a debate on the notion of the state enforcement of public morality but also have raised questions on the practicability of the Islamic law and its enforcement, the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims in Malaysia and also, the protection of individual rights in particular women rights.

As it is the main aim of the Liberal Forum to regularly invite outstanding Malaysian personalities to discuss on a current controversial subject and to answer questions of the interested public, this has thus prompted us to invite the three outstanding speakers to share their views in regards to the role of the state in enforcing public morality in a modern Malaysian society.

Other supporting and related objectives are to discuss on the impact of laws on fundamental liberty guaranteed under the Constitution and the Islamic legal theory and practice on which these laws are said to be based on. In addition, other questions such as the state role in brining about a moral society when it turns what it considers “sins” into “crimes against the state”. Should the state extend the long arm of the law, or should it be left to the conscience of the individual? What is the effect of such laws on nation-building and the relationship between the communities in multi-ethnic and multi-religious Malaysia? How does this law build a progressive Muslim society as envisaged by the Islam Hadhari concept? The discussion will look at the role of the state and the impact of its enforcement on public morality.