Who To Believe In Female Singer Ban At Temple Event Brouhaha Guan Eng Or Terengganu Pas Law Enforcer

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TERENGGANU’S state EXCO for local government, housing and health Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah has dismissed the allegation of discriminatory religious practice by the PAS-ruled  state government following the ban against female singers from performing at the Guan Di temple association’s jubilee celebration.
The Wakaf Mempelam state assemblyman reiterated that the Terengganu state government has set guidelines and conditions for entertainment-oriented events under the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment 2002.
“As long as it does not conflict and complies with the conditions imposed, then there is no obstacle to continue the programme,” he penned in a Facebook post which encapsulated the visit by Gerakan president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai to his Wakaf Mempelam service centre to hear his side of the story.

“In fact, I’ve given a commitment that the state government will support the programme that will be implemented”
Wan Sukairi further contended that he has also shared with Lau procedures that needed to be complied to if similar event were to be staged in the future. This is essential given that Gerakan is seen as representing the non-Muslim interest in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.
“I see that this issue is deliberately hyped to build perceptions and to portray as if the action of the state government has negated negate the rights of other races and religions in this harmonious state.”
Lim Guan EngEarlier, Guan Eng has described the directive by Wan Sukairi which prohibited female singers from performing at the Guan Di temple’s event as both “discriminatory” and contravening constitutional rights pertaining to religious freedom.
What makes this more galling is the previous empty promise by PAS that they will neither disrupt, interfere nor restrict in the religious traditions or practices of non-Muslims has been rendered irrelevant, meaningless and a deception.
Whilst many have qualms about the 2022 Terengganu state government’s ban on female singers performing in front of a male audience, non-Muslims were reassured that they were exempted from such a ban.
However, PAS’ restriction on entertainment for the religious celebrations for the Guan Ti Temple clearly shows otherwise.
Wan Sukairi claimed there was no discrimination against other religions because the female non-Muslim singers were not just performing in front of a non-Muslim male audience but were held in an open space that could include male Muslim passersby who can watch the non-Muslim female singers.
Whilst no enforcement action has been taken to date, PAS has refused to relent from their harsh stance.
In other words, Guan Eng claimed that regulations by PAS which restrict entertainment in non-Muslim religious festivals are still in place.
“Malaysians, especially non-Muslims, are now forewarned that the extremist practices of PAS can also be imposed on non-Muslims,” he added. – Focus Malaysia

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