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KUCHING, June 27: The recent incident in Kelantan, where a non-Muslim business owner was fined for wearing shorts within her own business premise, once again sheds light on the extent of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia’s (PAS) conservative and racial politics, which pose significant threats to the rights and freedom of individuals, says a local opposition member.
Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) member Michael Kong expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasising the persistence of narrow and conservative policies in certain regions of Malaysia.
He also noted that Malaysia have witnessed similar instances of rights infringement against non-Muslims, such as the closure of number forecasting outlets in Kedah.
“These actions reflect a concerning trend where religious and racial considerations are given priority over the principles of equality and inclusivity.
“The incident in Kelantan and the rise of racial-based politics within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government serve as a warning to all Malaysians and especially Sarawakians. It demonstrates the risks we face when we underestimate the impact of politics and takes our democratic rights for granted,” he said in a statement today.
Even though currently PN does not have a significant presence here in Sarawak, Kong, who is special assistant to Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, however pointed out that the decisions made at the federal level can still greatly affect Sarawakian lives if local parties choose to align themselves with PN as the governing coalition.
Therefore, he emphasised the importance for Sarawakians to recognise the power of their votes in shaping the future of Malaysia.
“We must actively participate in the political process and vote for political parties that remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding the principles of equality, justice, and inclusivity for all Malaysians.
“We must strive to preserve a secular Malaysia that embraces progressiveness, liberalism, and respect for individual freedoms. These are the very principles that Sarawak subscribed to when it joined Malaysia in 1963, and we must not allow regressive policies and discriminatory practices to erode the foundations of our diverse and multicultural society,” he added.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old Kelantanese woman who runs a clothing business was issued the compound by Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) for wearing “indecent clothing” in a public place.
MPKB said the woman committed an offence under Section 34(2)(b) of the Business and Industrial Trade By-Laws 2019, which states that non-Muslim business owners and their non-Muslim employees must wear “decent clothes”. — DayakDaily
