Malays can’t have fun, they are in deep trauma – Zaid Ibrahim

The Malays shouted Merdeka the loudest, yet they were not free – they should be allowed to have some fun, writes Datuk Zaid Ibrahim. – Abdul Razak Latif/Scoop file pic, October 17, 2024

Opinion/Analysis


Malays can’t have fun, they are in deep trauma – Zaid Ibrahim


Ban of Malays from Orang Asli event, arrest of two men in charity run alleged to promote LGBT shows how Islamic authorities want to keep Malays ‘pure’, despite themselves not being sin-free


Updated 2 days ago
17 October, 2024
4:08 PM MYT


THE Orang Asli event “Joget Lambak” would have been most entertaining and educational for Malays. Unfortunately, the Tapah Islamic Council barred them from attending.

Why? These Islamic administrators are worried Malays might be exposed to idolatry, alcohol, and the free mixing of the sexes. They might be excited by the music and dances.

In short, Malays should not have some fun. No wonder the Malays are experiencing trauma nowadays because they are prohibited from experiencing life as others do.

They are not even allowed to witness and partake in a party organised by Orang Asli. Understanding the culture of our Indigenous people would be an enriching experience, but not for the Islamic administrators.

On October 7, the two old men who participated in the International Charity Run organised by the Hash Harriers in Johor were hauled to court. The two adults from India and Taiwan were charged with indecent behaviour, one for wearing women’s clothes and the other for showing his bottom. The complaints were that they were promoting LBGTQ.

My goodness! Only a community so divorced from the world and knows nothing about having fun would think that men in the ’60s would come to this country to do a charity run and still want to promote an ideology.

The run was for charity, and the participants just wanted some fun. This high-income country is now attracting world attention for their so-called aversion to LGBTQ despite many of its leaders being reportedly involved in gay activities.

The Red Dress was in memory of a woman runner from India who was well known among Hash Harriers, and the Taiwanese man was exposing his bottom as his native Taiwan tribe would do in a celebration

Because the Islamic administrators are so vigilant in keeping the Malays pure, the Malays are in deep trauma. They can’t see the funny side of the world.

What’s the result of keeping them pure? There are so many reports of Malay men having sex with young boys. Some are religious preachers! Malays constitute the largest group of drug offenders, and they have welfare homes where terrible things happen to the most vulnerable.

Bullying in schools is rampant. They also indulge in deviant teachings more than any other community in the country. Clearly, Malays are in a trauma.

The Malays need to be set free. The Islamic administrators are making them misfits in society by ring-fencing them from all kinds of activities others would regard as normal. They are protected from sin as if the guardians themselves are sin-free.

The Malays shouted Merdeka the loudest, yet they were not free. They should be allowed to have some fun. – October 17, 2024

The opinion piece above was taken from Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s post on social media platform X. Zaid is a former law minister