YOURSAY | ‘Wrong is wrong, don’t be apologetic in condemning it.’

Minister: KB council fine infringes on non-Muslims' right to wear shorts

Vijay47: With reference to Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming’s heroic pleas to the Kota Bharu powers to “let my people go”, I notice that Malaysiakini has now removed the earlier “if possible” term in the report.

Congratulations, Malaysiakini, not that the exclusion of the term is going to place Nga in any better light. He remains as spineless as he had first revealed himself to be.

Why does every non-Muslim politician, when speaking out against abuses on minorities have to be so “tumpang-tanya” (politely ask) apologetic? I have no problem with Nga’s explanation of the law, the Constitution, and the rights of the population – it is very clear that large sectors within government service are seriously in need of further education despite their appointment being on ability and merit.

Nga then offers the alternative that “they should have discussed the matter with the woman, reprimand and educate her”. Why? I hope you are not a lawyer, Nga – condolences to your clients – but you seem to be implying that the lady had been illegal in her dressing.

Under what law? The fact that easily confused people keep issuing orders and rules every morning does not make it correct. You seem terrified that you had to speak out against a bunch of religious fanatics, and hence your placating concluding please-don’t beat-me-for-my-temerity words.

A wrong is a wrong, you don’t have to be sorry for condemning it. No, no way in hell will you be seen as a Solomon.

Cogito Ergo Sum: Nga, as a non-Muslim, what you or your party say will not have any effect but may even encourage the authorities to enforce this rule with a vengeance. You need to say this to assure your supporters that your party is making noise.

It would have been much better if a Muslim deputy minister from your ministry had made this statement. But then, we are living in such a ludicrous situation, that even the Muslim deputy minister would have been branded as an apostate.

We have arrived at this situation today because your Pakatan Harapan administration has encouraged such actions instead of being advocates of moderation. You have allowed the situation to reach a place of no return. You can’t turn back now, or you will lose both the state and federal governments. Was it worth it?

FellowMalaysian: Nga should apologise to the woman on behalf of the Kota Bharu Municipal Council (MPKB), for the gaffe as the town council is under the jurisdiction of the ministry. This is not a question of magnanimity.

As the minister, Nga should feel innately responsible and contrite enough to offer his sincere apologies for his subordinates' improprieties. These are qualities that we intuitively will offer if we care enough to become a first-world nation.

LimePanther5220: Those who are offended by her dressing should just not go to her shop so that she will learn to dress better next time. End of the story, rather than having this dressing issue raised again and again. Wisdom tells us that we cannot police peoples’ behaviour unless we turn ourselves into a police state, which will make us unpalatable to investors.

This shop owner is open about her dress. She is open for everyone to judge her dress. Worst are those truly dark and immoral activities conducted behind closed doors which no one can see such as corruption, rape, incest, child marriage and pornography.

Are the authorities concerned about all these inner and deeper sins which corrupt the soul? Have they been sufficiently addressed and solved?

Mazilamani: Wearing a lengthy T-shirt-like outfit in the picture is usually a promotional gimmick. Anyway, you go to this shop to buy, why scan the naked part of the leg? If it is a shop selling exclusively ladies' wear, what need, or right is for a man to enter or shop there?

Good and bad are in the mind and heart of a person. If you judge apprehensively, the problem is in you, not the other person. Frankly, some of our men should avoid visiting Western or modernised Eastern countries, to avoid lusting roving eyes.

Koel: Get your priorities right, Kelantan. Make sure that you can provide drinking water, ensure food security, and ensure sound and useful education that leads to good jobs for youths. Help your businesses to thrive by providing support to grow these businesses.

Stop these petty and sick obsessions with women's bodies and their clothing. Ensure your women are properly educated to survive in this tough world of high inflation. Provide good social programmes for your elderly and retired people.

We hope we never have to hear of your mayor showing pictures of women's shorts as part of his mayoral duties. You have done enough to look like a joke. Stop demeaning yourselves.

Proarte: Hear! Hear! Non-Muslims are nobody's dhimmis (non-believers who are to be protected). Perikatan Nasional and the Madani government should take note of this.

When politicians are bankrupt of ideas, they divide and rule and often use religion, in this case Islam as a cover. The Chinese lady has a right to wear shorts, particularly in this hot spell. The Muslim enforcement agencies have no right to infringe on a non-Muslim's constitutional rights.

ChineseMale70Plus: To this non-Muslim woman who owns this shop, I have this to say. Work hard, make sufficient money, and then move your business away from Kelantan. You may not accomplish this immediately, but you will, if you persevere. To MPKB, I have this to say. You and PAS are bigots, empty vessels that make the most noise.

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