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March 26, 2006
Coming To A Head
Look at how they've tried to worm their way out of a difficult situation:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said it was optional for women police personnel to wear the "tudung" (headscarf) while performing their daily duties but the headscarf was compulsory for those taking part in parades."There is no problem and dispute (on the wearing of the tudung by women police personnel). Members of uniformed services, including the police, must abide by the regulations on the wearing of their uniforms," he said at a news conference after launching the 199th Police Day celebration at the Police Training Depot here. [Bernama]
Actually, you have to be stupid to not see the bullshit in the argument.
Since when has the need for uniformity in police parades over-ridden the individual right to freedom of religion?
The tudung is a Muslim headdress; it is worn by Muslim women who believe that covering the head, with the exception of the face, is required by their religion.
Let me ask this question: If there are fewer tudung-wearing policewomen in a particular parade than those not wearing the tudung, which of the two groups are not "uniformly dressed"?
The answer is, girls and boys, the group wearing the tudung.
Does this mean that we force them to take off their tudungs?
Of course not, as that would mean we are infringing on their right to freedom of religion.
Similarly, we allow Sikh policemen to wear turbans.
If they happen to be chosen to take part in a parade, do we force them to take it off?
Would it be right to exclude turban-wearing Sikh policemen from taking part in parades because their presence would disrupt "uniformity"?
If not, do we force other policemen in the parade to wear Sikh turbans in the interest of "uniformity"?
No. No. And no.
Posted by aisehman at March 26, 2006 01:28 AM
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Comments
The big question is why the head of our country is even speaking on this subject? Its laughable. We look like a banana republic where the big man have a say in every little detail. The job of the leader is deal with large issues of systemic nature. Tudung? For god sake, if the entire civil service and religious bodies cannot decide on this, there is a larger problem of people being just mental eunuchs.
Posted by: Bigjoe at March 26, 2006 06:12 AM
Aisehman....whatever happened to that ACA investigations about the son on the bazaar lots during ramadan in Kuala Lumpur of this famous father as the top Law enforcer...
IPCMC causing the Police Force going soft..hehehe...this is a good one....Wonder what the members of The Royal Comission which reccomended this has to say...Bloggers any comments please.... I say...the honest cops in majority should sleep tight and have nothing to worry...it is only those straying ones that do not want to see this taking place with all kind of excuses to thwart..
Justice and human rights...says the big man is difficult to share the same bed...mmmm....any thoughts anyone...
Posted by: jaanu at March 26, 2006 08:30 AM
No.No.No also when come to wearing of safety helmets or topi keledar. when sikhs who wear turbans drives or rides on motor cycle on the road, they exempted from wearing of safety helmets. You want to know why? asked the minister of transport!
Posted by: pakcucing at March 26, 2006 10:46 AM
The most dangerous politicians are the ones you trust because......
Here's my suggestion.
Let's have a competetion to see who can come up with the best answer.
My entry:
because they will f*** your backside while you are not looking
Posted by: direktoraat at March 26, 2006 07:06 PM
Aisehman, agree with what you say when you question the line between uniformity and individual right to religion. This whole wearing the "tudung" during police parade for the sake of "uniformity" (conformity more like it), and the general policing of one's religious practices is getting more and more ridiculous. Just as we have our "Garden State" down south not allowing school children with tudungs into public schools is just the other side of the "uniformity" coin (huge hoo-ha about it a few years ago). They both stink. My two cents. Cheers.
Posted by: nurjmo at March 28, 2006 01:02 PM
i think the IGP should have look at his own backyard first. to resign is the honourable thing to do.
Posted by: gearstick at March 29, 2006 03:18 PM
PM asking non muslim wear tudung???? not required in islamic religion, new Islam hadari??? non muslim have 2 wear tudung???
Posted by: skoope at March 30, 2006 03:34 PM