No kissing no hugging

Malaysia’s highest court has ruled that couples who indulge in public display of affection such as hugging and kissing can face imprisonment and hefty fines, reports said on Wednesday. The Federal Court has ruled to uphold an existing law against indecent public acts, in an appeal of a case where a young couple was fined by local authorities in 2003 for kissing and hugging in a public park. The couple, who at that time were aged 23 and 21, had opposed the actions of the city council, saying that it was their right to freedom of expression, and launched an appeal. “Is it moral in our society as Asians to kiss and hug in a public place? We need to remember that (our) rules were not made in foreign countries like the UK or the US, where such acts are accepted by society,” Chief Judge Ahmad Fairuz was quoted as saying by the Malay-language Berita Harian daily.The couple, who are ethnic Chinese, were charged with indecency, and if found guilty, they face a fine of up to 2,000 ringgit ($533) Rs and one-year jail sentences.