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Who is tarnishing Ipoh’s image ?   Press Statement by Ngeh Koo Ham (Ipoh, Tuesday): It is reported today that Perak MCA wants the Perak DAP to stop tarnishing Ipoh’s image by continuing to claim that the city council is against people holding hands.  Perak MCA secretary, Datuk Chang Kon You claimed that the issued has been resolved.   The campaign by Perak DAP is not holding hands but on the larger issue of the new morality policy that Ipoh Mayor, Datuk Sirajuddin has declared that he will be imposing on Ipoh. DAP is worried because the moral values that he will be imposing is expected to be an Islamic one because of the Summonses that have been issued on those who hold hands in the public parks. Imposing Islamic moral values on Ipoh whose population are mainly non Muslims is insensitive.   MCA Perak is to be blamed for not having the guts to come out openly to oppose such a moral policy.   MCA Perak is to be blame for trying to mislead the people that this issue has been settled.   How has it been settled ? The Ipoh Park rules remain the same. The summons are not withdrawn. Fines paid not refunded. The Ipoh Mayor has not declared that he is withdrawing his morality policy on Ipoh. In fact he defended his officers’ actions. Ipoh Mayor has also not declared that he has withdrawn his ‘Peeping Toms’ officers from the parks.   The DAP believes in the rule of law Legal provisions must be put in place that Ipoh Mayor will not impose his Islamic moral values on the non-Muslims of Ipoh.   The meeting between Perak MCA Chairman Datuk Ong Ka Chuan and Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali was only a meeting requesting UMNO leaders not to embarrass the MCA. It did not solve the problems of Ipoh residents.   The Mayor of Ipoh and the MCA are to be blamed for the embarrassment that have been caused to Ipoh. (1/7/2003) * Ngeh Koo Ham,  DAP Perak Chairman