Maybe you are referring to the Sharia law (Islamic law) in banda Aceh, Indonesia.
In Aceh province which is the northern end of Sumatra where the tsunami striked is the only place with very strict Islamic law in Indonesia. Example like If commit adultery, the couple will be tied up and kena throw stone by the public as a form of punishment.
Ya, not surprising to hear that. Because in Singapore some of the Indonesian maid told me that they do consume pork too as they just follow what their employer eats.
In Singapore and bolehland, the malays are born as muslim, they are not allowed to change their religion. Even if they should marry with a non-muslim, be it a man or a woman, their spouse-to-be have to be converted to muslim.
As for Indonesian Javanese/Sudanese/Malays/minangkabau/bugis/madurese/etc they are born muslim but they can choose their religion when they grow up. I know of a maid from java tengah who used to be a muslim and later she convert into a Christian. Freedom of religion is commonly seen in Indonesia.
According to my encounter, 7th month seems to be a low-season for Sporean to cheong.
As for Msian, they are generally more pantang or superstitious so will try to avoid the streets if possible and their preferred destination is balai as it is nearer to malaysia when they depart from Kukup or puteri harbour in jb and is cheaper too.
In last few decade in china, the Chinese people were taught and "brainwash" with communist idea and way of life. Communism do not believe in religion, that is why most of the Chinese in china especially the central and northern Chinese even the southern Chinese do not believe in the 7th month god & ghost. (神鬼).
As Singapore/Malaysia/Indonesia/Thailand/Philippine/Hong Kong/ Taiwan overseas Chinese like our ancestors originate from southern china before the communism, they brought with them to southeast asia all these olden days beliefs and practices.
Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar may not have 7th month kind of thing. However in Vietnam not so sure as they have a strong cultural link with China. The Vietnamese cewek or known as the Pho are more of a yellow skin than brown sugar. They have the almost same face feature and skin colour as the Chinese and that is why sometime they can be mistaken as PRC cewek.
I am not quite familiar how to differential a real and a fade one. Just know that the taste of luwak coffee at level 3 Nagoya hill mall was nice. Perhaps need some coffee expert to find out.
