DAP queries Terengganu ban on women singers at temple event

August 4, 2024

DAP queries Terengganu ban on women singers at temple event

PETALING JAYA: The Terengganu government has been queried about a reported ban on women singers from performing at a temple event.

DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok urged the state government to revoke the directive, respect non-Islamic cultural values, and fulfil the party’s former slogan of “PAS for All”.

Kok said the Kuala Terengganu Municipal Council was reported to have sent a directive that female singers were prohibited from performing at the Guan Di temple’s jubilee celebration from July 29 to Aug 2.

She questioned whether the state government had extended entertainment restrictions to non-Islamic communities, including Taoist and Buddhist temples.

She said government policies should promote inclusivity, unity, and understanding among different communities.
In a statement today, she said: “In recent years, the PAS-led Terengganu government has introduced a series of religiously-influenced state policies and laws, including recently tightening gender segregation in stadiums.

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“However, these Islam-based regulations should not be imposed on non-Islamic communities, especially during Taoist and Buddhist temple celebrations.

“Such regulations create division within society and undermine the state’s harmony,” said Kok, who is also MP for Seputeh.

The reported ban on women singers at the temple event comes days after the state government introduced segregated seating for women spectators at football matches at the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin stadium.

Executive councillor Hishamuddin Abdul Karim said the arrangement was to prevent intermingling of male and female spectators.

“PAS for All” was a popular slogan during the leadership of Nik Aziz Nik Mat, when the party was part of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, which gained power in five states in the 2008 general election.