COMMENT | Politics and Malay weddings

COMMENT | Malay weddings can be a source of some of the best stories about Malay politicians.

I was a guest at a wedding, when a friend asked me why I write about political issues. I said: "I don't choose to write about politics, but in Malaysia, there is very little difference between Malaysian life and politics."

Politics is about our lives, and our lives are determined by the decisions made by politicians which affect almost every area of it.

For instance, where one lives may not sound political, but the Malays get discounts if they buy houses in new developments, and non-Malays are not allowed to purchase homes or land in certain areas.

Writing about where one shops should not have any political connection, but once at KLIA, I was not allowed to buy a bottle of single malt, even if it was a present for a friend, simply because I am Muslim.

Last week, supermarket chain Jaya Grocer in Puncak Alam was bullied by an assemblyperson until the alcohol and non-halal food sections were boarded.

Even one's clothes have political connotations. A routine, boring visit to a government department can end up being fraught and full of tension when security guards and civil servants interpret the dress code by their own conservative values.

Elsewhere, Muslims are not spared. A few Muslim women have alleged that they were told off for tying their hair up in a bun, under a tudung.

My friend suggested that Friday prayers were free of political interference. However, Friday sermons are now very political and preachers cannot stray from the script dictated by the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), and they hardly talk about issues affecting the local community.

In 1982, PAS issued a fatwa describing Umno as infidels and two sessions of Friday prayers had to be held. One for the infidel Umno and another for PAS followers.

So, when my friend mentioned Malay weddings...