The commercialisation of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Malaysia has triggered fierce criticism from clerics who deplore all the feasting, shopping and merriment. The fasting month, which ends next week with Eid al-Fitr celebrations, is supposed to be a time of self-denial and reflection during which Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk.
But instead, religious leaders complain, many people are more interested in hunting bargains at Ramadan sales, attending concerts and breaking their fast at sumptuous buffets laid on by every hotel and restaurant. "During this month the Muslims are supposed to put aside their lust and concentrate on their spirituality," said Harussani Zakaria, the mufti from northern Perak state.
"But in our country, they fast the whole day because they have no choice but to do so and at night it is as if they are out in a vengeance the way they flock to the malls, bazaars and all types of entertainment outlets," he said.
"It is only in Malaysia that the commercialisation of the holy month is so prevalent. You get an overdose of concerts, TV shows and all sorts of sales gimmicks. This is wrong in Islam."
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reminded Malaysians that Ramadan should be a soul-searching month when Muslims strengthen their spirit and work together for the country's development. But leading consumer activist Mohamad Idris laments that the call is going unheeded by businesses and advertisers who he says are taking advantage of the season to promote spending sprees and gluttony.
"This not only is against Islam but it can also shake a Muslim's faith," Mohamed said. "Shopping malls and corporate companies are competing with each other to use the festive season to sell their products and services." "Malls are packed with shoppers every night this season, when they are supposed to actually pack the mosques to perform prayers and meditate on the Koran," he said.
The commercialisation of Ramadan is being fuelled by the fast-growing economy of Malaysia, one of the richest countries in Southeast Asia with ambitions of becoming the world's first developed Muslim nation by 2020.
In a nation which is home to large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities as well as the Muslim Malay majority, many commentators talk of growing "Islamisation" and pressure for Muslims to be more observant.
But much as Christian leaders lament the absence of a religious element in Christmas celebrations, Harussani said that Ramadan is being increasingly secularised. "I think the main reason is not because people have all that much money to spend but it is because the spirit of Islam itself is not deep. People do not really understand the whole reason of fasting and Ramadan," he said.
Businesses are taking advantage of the season to market dates from Iran, head scarves from Pakistan and baklava, a pastry dessert from Lebanon.
Retail giant Metrojaya estimates that the last three months of the year account for 60 percent of their annual business, and about half of that is generated by sales during Ramadan.
"This is the time to catch people with extra pocket money," said its assistant general manager for sales and promotions, Alice Tan. "For all retailers, this is a festive season where we do a lot of promotions to generate sales," she said.
Mohamed, who has called for a total ban on the use of Ramadan and Eid to advertise products and services, said that the nation's poor often fall prey to the marketing campaigns.
"They are trapped into buying expensive things that they do not need and in the end they are debt-laden," he said. "What limited income they have is further eroded by overspending and overindulging." However, many Muslims say that small indulgences such as handing out greeting cards or hanging colorful lights in homes hardly qualifies as crass commercialism.
Khadijah Merican, 67, said such celebratory expressions can help Muslim Malaysians connect with their non-Muslim neighbours. "We have neighbours come over and it becomes easy to start a conversation over cakes and cookies, especially in Malaysia where everybody loves to celebrate," she said.