MCA Kedah New Year 2012 wish – Hope PAS Kedah govt won’t enforce gender segregation at New Year countdown

Press statement by MCA Kedah Chairman Dato' Chong Itt Chew

MCA Kedah New Year 2012 wish – Hope PAS Kedah govt won't enforce gender segregation at New Year countdown

As Malaysians along with the rest of the world's population get ready to usher in the New Year of 2012 with blessings for a better future, it is my humble plea to the PAS-led Kedah state government to allow revelers to be permitted to celebrate the new year's midnight countdown seated with the spouses and children.

It was only a recent one-year ago when the Kedah folks had to suffer the indignity of being ordered by Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Azizan to seat separately "to avoid problems such as pick-pocketing and indecent behaviour" (The Star, 3 Jan 11).

Given such a ruling, a wife is forcibly separated from her husband who will be segregated away from his children. A grandfather will be separated from his grandchildren while brothers are pushed apart from their sisters.

PAS acts like a moral custodian and looks down on all adult Malaysians as still immature, like as if still requiring moral policing and guidance.

Crime isn't lowered with gender stereotypes

What form of empirical evidence did the Kedah state government adopt to prove that males and females seated together spikes the chances of falling victim to pickpockets? Pickpockets should not be identified according to gender because female pickpockets can also strike on female victims when opportunity presents itself.

A year ago, Chinese language dailies had also reported that the gender segregation during the new year countdown was enforced to "protect unmarried Muslim women." This excuse is seriously flawed as it is misogynist and sniffs of religious discrimination. Not only does it assume that non-Muslim women may be endowed with a certain appearance, it also implies that the safety of non-Muslim women and married Muslim women do not qualify for protection.

Anyone, be they men, women, Muslim or non-Muslim, married, divorced or single is susceptible to falling victim to criminals. Any type of crime maybe committed by one gender against the opposite gender, and likewise between the same gender too.

If ensuring security is the main reasoning of this gender segregation ruling, then the PAS state government should have requested the federal government's help to station more police, RELA volunteers to provide backup support.

Other examples of PAS administration breaking up couples & families

In Kelantan, there are separate check out counters for males and females at the supermarket.

Similarly, cinema-goers are also compelled to sit separately if they want to watch a movie together.

Let there be boom & boon for 2012, not looming gloom

Welcoming the new year is a celebratory occasion for happiness and blessings. Kedahans should be allowed to partake with the festivities with merriment to herald good tidings.

The DAP representative in the Kedah government should try to talk some sense into the Kedah administration to recognize that Kedah adults are mature and not immature teenagers requiring moral chastisement.

Meanwhile, MCA Kedah wishes all Malaysians a very Happy and Healthy New Year 2012. For holiday makers who are homeward bound for your children's back-to-school preparations, I wish you a safe journey.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Dato' Chong Itt Chew
MCA Kedah Chairman

-MCA online-

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