Flip-flop over Islamic design ruling for Kelantan buildings won’t fool non-Muslims
29 May 2012
Press Statement by MCA Youth Secretary-General Dato' Chai Kim Sen
Flip-flop over Islamic design ruling for Kelantan buildings won't fool non-Muslims
Due to critical comments from MCA and members of the local Chinese community, it now appears that the Kelantan state government is flip-flopping over the issue that Islamic designs must be incorporated into the design of the Kelantan Buddhist Association Building.
The delay in clarifying by Kelantan state committee chairman for local government, tourism and culture Dato' Takiyuddin Hassan that the ruling does not cover houses of worship and that the Kota Bahru Municipal Council (MPKB) could use their discretion raises suspicion that the state government, through MPKB, was trying to impose its religious principles onto non-Muslims by controlling what may or may not be permitted in places of worship.
Decision back pedaling an afterthought
The belated explanation that houses of worship are excluded from this ruling is extremely suspicious indeed, which makes it seem that it was only done as an afterthought to pacify a feared backlash from the non-Muslim community. Why was this not clarified immediately when the voices of discord started? Moreover, why was the exemption not inserted into the regulations originally?
PAS Kelantan had probably avoided clarifying the issue earlier on with the hopes that the Kelantan Buddhist Association will eventually cave-in to pressure. Besides that, the statement by Kelantan Menteri Besar Dato' Nik Aziz that images of idols were not permitted adds further proof to PAS' attempt at imposing their religious tenets on non-Muslims.
Thus, how can PAS still proclaim that its theocratic policies will not affect non-Muslims? The situation in Kelantan proves otherwise, and it took MCA and the Chinese community to speak up against it while DAP kept silent to attempt avoiding the issue.
Non-Muslims won't forget PAS tried to compel identity switch
Non-Muslims voters will now take heed of this issue, and will not be easily fooled by PAS and DAP's rhetorics that their daily lives will not be affected, as the MPKB directive on building designs proves PAS has become so bold as to dare to alter the image and identity of another religion so as to make it in line with their own. Such practices are not applicable in a multi-racial country such as Malaysia, and PAS should know better than to touch such a sensitive issue.
Dato' Chai Kim Sen
MCA Youth Secretary General
-MCA online-
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