Do Pigs Fly...?

A lift is halal or otherwise is really not critical. We have many other real issues plaguing this country. But if you have this train of thought, we could have halal or non-halal staircases, air wells, public toilets and public transport? What about work spaces, door knobs and where we stay – halal and non-halal residences? We are veering to the edge of absurdity! So, in Malaysia, we are led to believe they do (fly)!

Source: https://halalfocus.net

Non-Muslims do not have to be Muslims to know what is morally right or wrong. All of us, both Muslims and non-Muslims, can easily understand, a convicted felon, cannot have special treatment in prison. That is haram! When we see a policeman kissing the hand of someone who stole billions from the public, it is not only disturbing but morally wrong.

Every crime needs its punishment. It is even worse when the prison system and the hospitals bent over backwards to accommodate this former PM. Where are the religious guidelines against this by Jakim and other religious bodies? Are lifts more important?

The bottom line is that there has to be visible consequences for crimes, without which there is a moral vacuum. If this is the way a criminal who stole billions is treated, are we really saying that our spiritual and moral values can be compromised for some service done by the former PM? That’s not all, the convict wanted to attend Parliament before it was dissolved. Could a convict go home for Hari Raya, Christmas or for conjugal rights?

Then we have the unbelievable frenzy to have an election. Is this to escape the clutches of the law? Will an early election change the government? And possibly the attorney general?

Is election more important than the plunging ringgit, oil prices and other commodity prices behaving erratically? And when dark clouds are gathering, warning us of the monsoon. Is this selfish and morally unacceptable? Isn’t it haram if leaders think they can abuse their powers to manipulate the administration of justice?

Whether it is haram or halal, fair or unfair, just or unjust, moral or immoral, wrong or right, most of us can all tell the difference. Yet, there are others who will turn a blind eye and compromise on what is right. 

Within this context, any religious guideline on lifts is nothing short of hypocrisy. No amount of halal labels can correct the compromises that have been made to our inherent national moral and ethical values.

Reference:

If pigs could fly... Sukeshini Nair, Aliran, 8 Oct 2022 

JAKIM: “No clause saying ‘non-halal lift’ sign necessary for certification”, Bernie Yeo, Focus Malaysia, 7 Oct 2022