COMMENT | Christmas is around the corner. Or should it be ‘the festive season’ instead as a few would view it, for fear of using the forbidden word?

Or can we Malaysians refer it to as a ‘silly season’ where frivolous, outlandish, illogical activity or behaviour makes the headlines?

It started more than 10 years ago with air wells in a newly completed housing scheme in Kedah that some quarters claimed resembled a cross. As if it planned to infuriate certain sections of the community, the furore continued for a few weeks until the developer painted it a different colour.

Then, we had the annual Oktoberfest billed as a “pesta maksiat” (vice party) by politicians without understanding its origins, notwithstanding that it is a German cultural festival. Even local authorities supported the call for a ban citing “security reasons”.

I then wrote: “If the state cannot provide safety for citizens to enjoy...