Perak may extend couple seats ban in cinemas
Published on: Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: The Perak State government is mulling extending the ban for unmarried Muslim couples from selecting couple seats in cinemas in the state after its implementation by the Perak Tengah district received positive public reaction.State Islamic Education, Personality Development, Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives executive councillor Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria said the ban in a cinema in Seri Iskandar was a good effort in eradicating immoral behaviours, especially among the youths."Couple seats will only be given to married couples and those with family ties. Other than to curb immoral activities, it can also strengthen family relationships," he was quoted as saying. Mohd Nizar said so far the ban received good reactions and was accepted by the locals, and the government did not deny the possibility for it to be expanded to cover the state. ADVERTISEMENT
He added there was also the possibility for the state government to introduce a ruling to segregate the seats between male and female patrons."What is more important is not the rule but the individual. If they have strong religious principles, they will not be involved in immoral activities," he said.It was reported that a cinema operator in Seri Iskandar has put up a notice barring unmarried Muslim couples from taking the couple seats.Perak Tengah district officer Mad Dan Hassan had said the ruling was issued when the cinema began operation in Seri Iskandar in September 2013, and was heeded by the operator without any problem.ADVERTISEMENT
He was surprised when it suddenly became an issue although the district had never received any complaints or objections from movie-goers.state Health, Public Transport, Non-Muslim Affairs, National Integration and New Village exco Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the ban was only for Muslim couples and does not apply to non-Muslims.
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Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the directive issued to the Lotus Five Star (LFS) Cinema at the D'Mall did not apply to non-Muslims. The Perak Tengah district council issued the notice two years ago as the cinema was located in a predominantly Muslim community.Its president Mad Dan Hassan said the notice was meant for Muslim patrons and the matter was decided during a full board meeting almost two years ago."So far, we have not received any complaints from the public nor the cinema, and we have also not issued any summonses to the cinema if it had violated the notice," he said.Seri Iskandar is mainly an education hub, where Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) are located. The three other LFS cinemas in Ipoh, Kampar and Parit Buntar do not display such notices.Dr Mah said he would defend the rights of non-Muslims, and in this case it was clear that the notice applied to Muslims only.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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