‘The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation’ - Pierre Trudeau, Minister of Justice, Canada 1968 (later PM in 1970).

The above immortal words were said by Pierre Trudeau when he was minister of justice in Canada in 1968 when he set out to decriminalise the laws of Canada dealing with sex.

As long as it is consensual between adults it is legal and that is any kind of sex - oral, homosexual, whatever kinky sex.

It is legal between consenting adults. It made him popular enough that he became Canada's most popular prime minister later.

And he was well known for making another great statement - ‘These are back-scratching politicians - you know the type. Scratch my back and I will scratch yours otherwise I will scratch your face’.

Trudeau’s statement is another liberal thought coming from the West. Should we accept it? The fact is that many Malaysians have already accepted it in private and going about their lives.

The Chinese and Indian communities may be even be ready to accept that consensual sex is okay between adults.

But is it right of non-Muslims to expect the Muslims to accept that consensual sex between adults is okay? They have their laws ie, the syariah.

The non-Muslims follow the civil laws that came from Britain. This is where the chasm in thought between the Malays and non-Malays begin.

We must try to narrow the chasm. It is not impossible, we just need to try harder. Malaysians haven’t really worked hard on that.

It is not that Muslims are backward about sexual matters. They are quite tolerant in private but this is due to the immense changes happening in society.

The non-Muslims must at least try to understand how serious Muslims weigh matters involving sex and their leaders.