 Malaysia's government has ordered an Islamic body in the capital to disband its volunteer force of moral police, saying its mission to deter so-called indecent behaviour was tantamount to invasion of privacy.
| I'd not have called it "tatamount." I'd have called it invasion of privacy per se. |
The government also warned that no such body would be allowed anywhere in the country.
| Bravo for the Malays. Good sense in a Muslim country. I am so surprised. But also heartened. It seems to have occurred to them that Singapore's a better model than Soddy Arabia. |
The decision, taken late on Wednesday, sends a clear message to Muslim purists that the government will not allow the country's image as a progressive and tolerant Muslim nation to be dented.
| ... since the Muslims don't have that much of a majority... |
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the prime minister, told his cabinet colleagues that no group has the right to spy on people. Radzi Sheikh Ahmed, a minister, said: "This involves invading people's privacy".
| No way around that, is there, bub? |
Radzi said ministers were shocked that such a squad, dubbed "snoop team" by the local media, was formed "right under their noses" by the Federal Territory Islamic Department in the administrative capital, Putrajaya. |