PAS Youth and Valentine's Day

Let me try to get this right -- PAS Youth is not against people celebrating Valentine's Day. Except Muslims..

PAS Youth is against Muslims celebrating Valentine's Day because it is against Islamic "syariat" as it is of Christian origin . It believes that celebrating this day of love and romance can lead to widespread immoral activities such as premarital and unlawful sex.

Because just making noise about it does not seem to have much effect on young Muslims, PAS Youth now wants the government to use its power over the mainstream media to broadcast anti-Valentine's day ads and messages to dissuade Muslims from celebrating it.

The movement is against the widespread media coverage and promotion of Valentine's Day.

PAS Youth says while Malaysia is diverse, Muslims make up 60 per cent of the population and should be subject to Islamic laws and regulations.

Also, it points out that in 2005, the National Fatwa Council declared that Islam does not encourage the celebration of Valentine's Day as it is associated with Christian elements.

So tomorrow morning, the movement will submit a memorandum to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim at his office.

It seems to be its practice of late - just ahead of Valentine's Day, PAS Youth sends out this message or rather warning. Non-Muslim bodies, including political parties will respond by reminding the movement about the non-Muslims in the country who have the right to celebrate Valentine's Day.

PAS Youth will clarify that it understands the sentiments but is doing all this because it does not want this to be a trend among Muslims.

Besides, Muslims the world over are against this celebration.

However, PAS Youth insists that it is not trying to be the moral police or enforcers.

Last year, ahead of Valentine's Day, JAKIM launched a campaign "Mind the Valentine's Day Trap. On the day, religious enforcement officers launched co-ordinated raids, targeting budget hotels and public parks in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

In Selangor alone, officials said 80 people were detained for khalwat or close proximity. In KL, there were raids as well. Overall, some 100 people were caught.

So, come Feb 14, we'll expect raids on budget hotels.

But you know, that's not how Valentine's Day is celebrated. You raid budget and six-star hotels today, you're bound to nab people - young or/and old - doing what they're not supposed to be doing.

Traditionally in modern times, people celebrate Valentine's Day by sending red roses to the ones they love. It used to be the guys sending the flowers. These days, girls send flowers too. You can't afford red roses (other kinds of flowers just won't do!) you send cards.

You can't afford cards or you just don't do cards in this digital age, there are just so many other ways of declaring your love ....

And then, of course, the Valentine's Day dinner. Anywhere is romantic.

Actually, that's all there is to the celebration. Now, those people who check into hotels -- well, they'd be doing it anyway. Valentine's Day is just an excuse.

All I can say is that Valentine's Day has become so commercial and commercialized. Florists make a killing, so do hotels and restaurants...I mean on that day or days before Valentine's Day, you can be sure the sales of chocolates and cards and God knows-what, shoot up.

Brisk business...

Anyway, I'd like to tell PAS Youth to chill out but I know that they have to do what they have to do. It's part of of their raison d'etre or it is their raison d'etre.

Now, let me get this right, PAS Youth is not trying to be the moral police. Right?

Thank goodness for that..