TO have religious beliefs, even to the point of bigotry, is unfortunately a person’s inalienable right.

But imposing those beliefs on others, to the detriment of their personal liberties, is not.

Malaysia is currently experiencing a politically charged wave of self-righteousness, virtue signalling and moral policing that is not only threatening the harmonious way we have lived, but the carefully nurtured moderate image that has been a selling point for decades to attract tourism, investment, talent, and diplomatic positioning.

Choosing GST as a core theme has stifled Pakatan Harapan’s ability to raise capital through tax today.

Continuous playing up of religious and racial issues has turned Perikatan Nasional too far right and unable to cover that last mile it needs to do to form a meaningful pact with its now alienated Bornean allies.

Making enemies of many former allies has made it hard for Warisan to negotiate a seat at the table while being friends and enemies with everyone has left Pejuang out in the cold.

We now have a Malaysia where civil servants and public appointees are dictating to Indian festival organisers to remove arguably the most important classical Tamil recitation from the event, and a Christian association that it cannot have a carol sung at a Christmas function hosted by a government media agency.

Language has a spiritual dimension to it, just as spirituality and religion has a certain language to it.

Are we so concerned about what some leaders say about our religion that we have forgotten the national soul?

And if so, are we still a part of it? Are Malaysians alllowed to practise their culture openly and freely instead of being made to tiptoe around sensitivities?

Is there room for other religions in Malaysia other than the official one?

Recently, a scholarship recipient who has since been linked to a conservative religious party raised a question about Malaysian student societies organising events involving alcohol and how that is said to be disrespectful to “Malaysian” culture.

So what is “Malaysian culture”?

Almost all the festivals celebrated by our Sabah and Sarawak friends involve home-made liquor. Chinese and Indians do partake in alcohol during Chinese New Year and Deepavali.

A fraction of Taoists and Hindus use alcohol in ceremonial sacrifice rituals, and Christians use wine to commemorate the Last Supper. Should we stop all this now too?

This myopic imposition of beliefs on others is not okay.

You don’t have to attend a concert if you don’t want to but others should be allowed to go if they want.

The government, whoever it is, should not need to apologise or justify the event for the simple reason there is no basis to their objections.

Anything that something is not prohibited by law or the moral standards of any group of Malaysians should be permitted.

Otherwise, the ostensible protest against “LGBT culture”, or connections with undesirable countries or something someone’s grandfather once said that was offensive, will never end.

Virtually all Western corporations, and increasingly, Asian companies, are practising diversity, which includes the LGBT community, ethnic minorities and so on. Almost all of these organisations participate in Pride Month. Are you going to kick them all out? Dare you?

Propaganda is cheap but dangerous.

The country’s hard-built, hard-earned economic position must not be torn down in favour of populism. It is too great a risk to pander to the hypocrisy for the sake of being politically safe or correct.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.