http://dapmalaysia.org  

Ban on liquor and social dances in Terengganu: Retrogressive policy by PAS and incompatible with modernity   Press Statement by Loke Siew Fook (Petaling Jaya, Monday):  DAPSY views with grave concerns of the announcement and steps taken by the PAS Terengganu state government to ban liquor consumption and all social performances like singing and dancing by women in public places like hotels in Terengganu.   The announcement by the Kuala Terengganu Municipal Council president Dr Sulaiman Abdullah that non-Muslims must abide by the same policy applied to Muslims drawn by the state government is totally insensitive, retrogressive and an infringement of the individual’s rights and freedoms of the non-Muslim community in Terengganu.   The ruling that non-Muslim women performers must first apply for a permit from the council by paying RM50 per day under the Entertainment Enactment to perform in restricted places such as their own homes, association buildings or private halls is utter nonsense and a big laughing stock unheard off by Malaysians before. Is he trying to suggest that if a married couple wants to watch television together at their own homes, they too have to apply for a permit first? Isn’t watching television also a form of entertainment?   PAS national leadership must realize that the whole country is watching what are they doing in Kelantan and Terengganu. They must realize that the two states belong to Malaysia and its society is part of the larger multi racial, multi religious Malaysian society. They are not living isolated in their own territories.   If PAS state governments continues with its kind of feudalistic, retrogressive and repressive policies, then it can forget about the ambition of forming an alternative government at the federal level for the simple reason that it is incompatible with democracy, human rights, women rights and modernity!   DAPSY strongly urges the Acting PAS President who is also the Terengganu Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to immediately lift all the bans and embark on a journey for progressive and just governance in Terengganu.    (11/8/2003) *  Loke Siew Fook. DAPSY National Secretary