Complaint to The Star for article "Paying for Fun"

This email was originally sent at 10:45pm, Wednesday 2nd February 2011 - CC-ed to a long list of family and friends.Including the Prime Minister himself.

Dear respected writers of “the rage” & the Star,

I begin in the name of Allah – All praises and thanks to Him, Lord of the Worlds. In Him Whom I seek His pleasure, and in His name I begin.

I am writing in response to the article in the following link, http://rage.com.my/writeups/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F1%2F26%2Frage_issues%2F20110125185207&sec=rage_issues

This article was published on Thursday, 27th January 2011, titled “Paying for fun” – informing readers about the widespread availability of prostitution in Malaysia today.

Dear writers,

What is the point of publishing such a disgusting article in a public newspaper? What are you trying to achieve?

If you can recall what we learnt back in our years of SPM – the white colour within the Malaysian flag symbolizes moral purity – holding up high, how strongly we uphold moral and ethical values. And even the patriotic song “Jalur Gemilang” states, with a positive note, that “Putihmu bersih budi pekerti”.

So I am surprised that no one amongst the editorial staff at the Star has done SPM – clearly you don’t know these things! Congratulations for landing that job without SPM!

Or could it be that, some – or all – of you have taken SPM, but you do not practice what you learn?

Are you going to blame our education system, somehow? Or is it something else?

I am a strong believer in a better tomorrow, and a more productive, value-driven youth that will drive us towards a better tomorrow.

But look at what we have in today’s headlines – promotion of prostitution?! There is no indication whatsoever that you disapprove of such behavior – in fact, you even conveniently dedicated an article to inform the public about how easy it is to go online and purchase cheap sex.

So again I ask, what is the point of writing this article, and promoting it on the front page of The Star? For profits?

I am sure that, as you are reading this e-mail, you are generating a response in your head – ready to pounce at me with the typical rationalization, and I’ve heard it all before – “we just display the facts : it’s up to people for them to choose!”

Why don’t you tell that to your 17-year old son who want some entertainment?

Why don’t you tell your mid-life-crisis HUSBAND who is stressed out at work?

Why don’t you tell that to your wife before you meet your pals for the night out?

Why don’t you tell that to your 15-year old daughter who wants quick cash?

Or better yet - what if you found out that the GRO that your interviewee has been deflowering all along was actually your SISTER. or your MOTHER. Not so "let them choose" anymore, i see?

People these days invest ridiculous amount of effort to promote negative cultures with the heartless rationalization of “let them choose” – all in the name of profits – but do YOU have what it takes to invest effort to promote POSITIVE VALUES, AND THEN LET THEM CHOOSE?! Do YOU have that character strength in you to defend those values ?!

Because it seems that the only time people truly invest effort to inculcate positive values was back in school – which occasionally SOME people don’t practice eventually, anyway, when they write articles violating values of the Malaysian flag!

Think about it, my friends: how does the public fall?

A long time ago, modesty – wearing decent clothes, guarding chastity, lowering gazes and loyalty to spouses – was something which garnered deep veneration and inspiration. These days it is completely lost.

How?

Because somewhere along the lines, someone decides to spread immorality across the land.

Because society subconsciously realizes “hey, you know what? It’s actually OK! People DO these kinds of things”

Because society refuses to look up to the “nerd” who defends morality and says “this is wrong!”

Because profits and marketability supersede integrity.

Our society is on the verge of its downfall – and with this article, the Star is part of the vehicle to that downfall.

So by Allah, I ask you: are those profits for popularity really worth riding this vehicle of moral downfall?

So free sex has gone public now – what’s next? Drugs? Murder?

Sure, you can also justify yourself by saying that “oh, it’s a free country!”

Or “Oh, people write about them anyway!”

Or “the youth know about it already”

But guess what?

Here’s the reality – if you are articulate enough, you can justify anything – but it doesn’t make it RIGHT

Oh yes - all this without even pointing the fact that prostitution is actually ILLEGAL in the first place. In fact, Wikipedia shamelessly states that in Malaysia, "laws banning prostitution remains largely reinforced" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Malaysia) - this is the image that is easily accessible in the world: and here you are, exacerbating this image.

Ironically, an open public webpage like wikipedia doesn't promote prostitution in Malaysia. But you do..!

Oh! And I have noticed that you have a MUSLIM writer, Mr HH – amongst those who produced this rubbish!

Dear non-Muslim writers,

I would like to sincerely apologize on behalf of Muslims that our Muslim friend, Mr HH, who wrote this article, completely misrepresented Islam and blatantly going against Islamic principles & moral values.

Dear Muslim brother who wrote the article,

May Allah have Mercy on all of us, akhi. I remind you with the meanings of the word of Allah, Lord of the Worlds:

“Verily, those who like that (the crime of) illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated (spread) amongst those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not” (An-Nur 24:19)

Or if that isn’t clear enough,

“Those who disbelieved and hinder (others) from the Path of Allah, for them We will add torment to the torment; because they used to spread corruption” (An-Nahl 16:88)

Think about it, sir. A youth may have gone through the article, and subconsciously decided that “wow – I didn’t know it was that easy – great! I'm going to get me some”

And you might have been responsible for the starting point of the downfall of another person’s life.

We have been given the honour to embrace the religion of God, Who wants us to protect our self-respect and our honour from committing disgusting crimes such as illegal sexual intercourse – aren’t you proud of that self-respect? Why lower yourself down to people who do not hold on to these noble principles?!

Dear brother H,

We will all face death one day, and we will all be raised back and questioned for every single thing that we do in this short life on Earth. And we’ll be paid back in full. People can deny this resurrection all they want – but it doesn’t change the fact that it WILL happen. You can try this experiment at home: close your eyes as you put your hand in the burning oven, in denial convincing yourself it doesn’t work – tell me if it hurts.

But fret not, dear brother – I only wish to correct you, and I wish to help you to way that is better. Allah tells us “O My slaves who have transgressed themselves! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah – verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Az-Zumar 39:53)

Repent to Allah, dear brother. We all make mistakes – the only way to succeed is by tawbah (repentance)

The Prophet said, “Every son of Adam is a sinner. And the best of sinners is he who constantly repents”. (Tirmidzi)

Let us work together towards the common goal of earning the pleasure of Allah and attaining His Jannah – abandon this blatant spread of corruption. If you wish to change better, I will gladly offer my assistance “.. Help you one another in righteousness and piety – but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment” (Al-Ma’idah 5:2)

Use your writing skills in the cause of good - don’t let it go to waste.Do not squander this wonderful opportunity to become a role model to the people around you, brother. We live in this world and we have this one chance to earn the mercy of Allah – don’t waste yours.

Let this be a reminder for you, me and everyone else in this list. I am only just another Muslim brother who is reminding his loved ones for the sake of Allah - because Love is a mandatory aspect in our religion.

As for the other editors at the Star, I sincerely hope you do something about this – issue public apology, reproach yourselves for allowing that article to touch your newspapers – whatever. Just DO SOMETHING.

For whatever that you believe in – and I sincerely hope that it is God – please, halt this nonsense and start propagating the positive values. It’s never too late to change – you just have to make that choice.

The scars will still be there but let’s not let the infection spread any further.

I am sending this e-mail with CC to my family, loved ones, and friends – I may not have the millions of readers to propagate this message to, I may not have the power to change the world – but I am a responsible human being and fellow Malaysian – first and foremost the servant of God – a Malaysian who cares about the youth, who bothers about promoting positive values, and who will not sit idle while the minds of my beloved brothers and sisters in humanity have their minds corroded in the name of profit, marketing and business.

Oh, and I am putting the Prime Minister in my CC list, too. Yes, i am serious.

I may not have the influential power to reach out to millions – a right that has been defiled and abused many times in the media today – including this article – but I do have the will to do what is in my control. Because I will not let what is beyond my control affect what is within my control.

Because if it’s not Malaysians who do not stand up for MALAYSIAN moral values, then let me ask you – who else?!

If it’s not Muslims who do not defend the honour and self respect of the Islamic society – then who else?!

I end this e-mail with an open invitation to everyone within the loop of this e-mail to become better persons, build strong healthy societies which hate negativity – in accordance to what is pleasing to the one true God. And of course, for the non Muslims, I invite you – come, let’s recognize the purpose of our Lives to earn the pleasure of the Creator – and become the best that we can be in this short life. Let us all - Muslims AND non-Muslims - learn more about Islam and by Allah, the greatest treasures will unfold before your eyes.

Dear all those in the CC list – to all you mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters whose futures are at stake - let us all play our roles in whatever is within our abilities to curb the mainstream spread of evil within society.

Malaysians still care – and that we will not sit idle in the midst of blatant, public injustice & moral corruption.

Your reward is with Allah- if not in this life, it will be in the Hereafter – “..O My people! I Ask you of no wealth for it, my reward is from none but Allah. I am not going to drive away those who have believed. Surely, they are going to meet their Lord, but I see that you are a people that are ignorant!” (Hud 11:13)

“.. and with Allah are the best of rewards” (Al-Imran 3:195)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." (Muslim)

I love you all for the sake of Allah.

Regards & peace,

Faisal Abdul Latif

Muslim, fellow Malaysian, believer of strong values and an individual seeking for a change – for a better tomorrow

“You will not have faith until you love for your brother what you love for yourself” (Al-Bukahri)