PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng today hit out at the reasoning given by a Terengganu executive councillor for the recent ban on female singers performing at a temple, calling it "ridiculous"..
Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah had said that the directive was sent to the Guan Di temple association, which was holding a jubilee celebration, as the event had taken place in an open space.
In a statement, however, Lim said no Muslims had been invited to the celebration, and that none would attend of their own accord in a PAS-ruled state that "rigorously applies their strict moral code"..
Not only would non-Muslims feel discriminated against by the Terengganu government, he said, they would also feel that their constitutional right to freedom of religion was being infringed.
"Wan Sukairi’s justification is ridiculous because this is a temple event involving only non-Muslims," said Lim.
“The performance was conducted next to the temple that has organised such events every year involving only non-Muslims without any unsavoury incidents.
"What is in plain view is that non-Muslims are not only discriminated against, but also denied their customary entertainment or traditional practices involving a religious festival."
Wan Sukairi, the chairman of the state’s health, housing and local government committee, said yesterday that Terengganu’s guidelines on entertainment and places of entertainment, adopted in 2022, were being applied fairly and without discrimination.
He said that the temple’s association had applied to the Kuala Terengganu City Council for a permit for the celebration on June 20.
He said the city council had approved the application, subject to conditions including compliance with the state’s guidelines on such events – which include ensuring that only female audiences watch performances involving female artistes.
While Wan Sukairi said exceptions were made for performances by male and female artistes for non-Muslim audiences, Lim said this was clearly not the case.
"The previous empty promise by PAS that they would neither disrupt, interfere nor restrict the religious traditions or practices of non-Muslims has been rendered irrelevant (and) meaningless," he said.
In other words, these PAS regulations restricting entertainment in non-Muslim religious festivals are still in place.
The incident came days after the state government introduced segregated seating for women spectators at football matches at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin stadium.
