I'm not sure how it works with other religions, so i won't comment.
But for Islam, it seems that the standard response to something (usually something "new") that our learned Muslim clerics disagree with is to ban it, usually under the provisions of "enjoining the good and forbidding evil" or hisbah.
Could that be linked somehow to our obsession in Malaysia of banning this and that?
We don't like racism, let's ban it.
We don't like xxx political party, let's ban it.
We don't like xxx person, let's ban him (throw him into detention without trial).
We don't like xxx newspaper, let's ban it (or not renew its license).
We don't like anyone talking about Article 153, let's ban discussion (easy solution right?).
Ban this, ban that. Seems like a terribly lazy way of building a nation.
Back to point. Islam bans stuff to protect its followers from bad things. Malaysian Government bans stuff to protect its citizens from bad things. Malaysian Government is predominantly a Muslim government (majority of the civil service and elected leaders are Muslims?). Therefore, since Muslims are taught that banning stuff is a good way to deal with undesirable elements, Malaysian policies follow suit.
I'm just speculating, of course. A wild stretch of the imagination perhaps. But, maybe, just enough of a fetch to make you go "Hhhhmmm..."
