Learn from Saudi Arabia, PAS urged

PETALING JAYA: Any recurrence of the incident where a non-Muslim woman was fined for wearing shorts in public will negatively impact tourism in Kelantan, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister has warned.

Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing urged PAS leaders heading the east coast state to learn from other Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, which he said, was developing its tourism sector while respecting the rights of people of various faiths.

“If such an incident occurs again, it will cause concern and leave a massive impact on locals and tourists,” he wrote on Facebook yesterday.

Tiong was referring to an incident in Kota Baru last Sunday where a non-Muslim businesswoman was slapped with a compound for “indecent dressing” despite being inside her own shop.

The compound was issued by the Kota Baru Municipal Council under Section 34(2)(b) of the council’s Business and Industrial Trade By-Laws 2019.

The woman was quoted as saying that she had been selling women’s clothes at the shop for the past two years, and it was the first time she had been issued a compound notice.

A photo that went viral online shows a person, said to be the woman, wearing an oversized top over shorts.

Tiong, also the Bintulu MP, cites Articles 3(1) and 8 of the Federal Constitution as stating that non-Muslims are free to practise their respective religions and protected from discrimination.

“As a non-Muslim, I never deny or question any faith or race in this country.

“As Malaysian people who love our country, (we should) respect one another, celebrate diversity, love one another while upholding the Federal Constitution,” he said.

In a statement on Monday, the council defended its action and said business holders must ensure they and their workers are dressed, clean and tidy when carrying out any trade, business or industrial activities.

“Non-Muslims must also dress decently, and if their workers are Muslims, they must wear clothing covering their aurat,” it said.

Aurat refers to parts of the body that, in Islam, are not supposed to be exposed in public.