By Syed Mu’az Syed Putra
July 17, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider
AMPANG, July 17 — Kedah has revoked the outright ban on entertainment outlets during Ramadan and will instead bar only Muslims from patronising such establishments, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today.
Hadi blamed the mainstream media’s inaccurate reports for causing confusion and sparking discontent among non-Muslims.
“The BN media is exploiting this issue. So only non-Muslims can enter (the entertainment outlets), but Muslims will not be allowed to enter,” Hadi told reporters here today.
He said the Kedah state government under Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak was merely enforcing laws enacted by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
Hadi said PR was now “fixing” such laws to protect the rights of non-Muslims.
According to him, Azizan’s political secretary, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, told the PAS national leadership at a meeting today that the state government will revoke the licenses of entertainment outlets visited by Muslims during Ramadan.
Sanusi had insisted yesterday that the ruling would remain, saying the state government was just enforcing a 1997 law.
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang had urged Kedah to withdraw the ban on 13 types of entertainment outlets from operating in the state during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
MCA had accused the Islamist party of violating human rights with the ban, which covered businesses such as karaoke centres and discos, as well as live performances in easily accessible locations such as bars, hotels and restaurants.
Only cybercafés, bowling alleys and snooker centres were exempted from the ruling.
Hadi pointed out today that the laws under BN allowed the opening of entertainment outlets, and did not prohibit Muslims from patronising them.
The Marang MP stressed that PAS was not bowing to pressure from other parties.
Sanusi also said entertainment outlet operators had promised not to allow Muslims to enter their premises during Ramadan.
#1 by raven77 on Monday, 18 July 2011 - 12:04 am
These guys should focus on the economy…..Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis, Trengganu are some of the poorest states….PAS just cannot lead….its better they stay in mosques…..
Jadi papa kedana if these fellows end up running the country…they probably dont even know how to count….parents may have to end up feeding ubi kayu for their kids…and PAS may just say …Syukur and that’s OK….
The PR must seriously look into the PAS’s abiliy to grow an economy….their past records are absolutely miserable….
#2 by monsterball on Monday, 18 July 2011 - 1:31 am
It is not too late to learn.
That much you can say about PAS.
They do listen to Malaysians sincerely …after teaming up with DAP and keDAILan….and they are getting better and better.
Just look at their recent party elections…all narrow minded racist voted out.
What more can you ask from one changing for the better?
Has UMNO B changing for the better or becoming worst and worst?
#3 by Sallang on Monday, 18 July 2011 - 5:55 pm
Well said, both raven77 and monsterball.
Dear Hadi, preaching to the Muslims to refrain from going to entertainment centers during the holy month, should be confined to the mosques.
After all, it is between the individual and his faith.
Those who used to play 4D, Toto and ‘Kuda’, will still ask the non Muslims to buy numbers for them. Sometimes for RM1.00 service charge.
Hopefully, from now until the next election, NO more such ridiculous rules.
Don’t waste time on ‘fire fighting’.