The political secretary to Kedah Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has denied there’s been a reversal to the ban on 13 types of entertainment outlets during the month of Ramadan.

According Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, there was merely a compromise in the form of an allowance for the outlets to continue operating during the fasting month on condition that Muslims not be allowed to patronise such businesses during the said time.

They are also to close from T NONE hursday evenings at 6pm until 2.30pm the next day out of consideration for the congregational prayers held on Fridays.

Insisting that the Entertainment and Entertainment Outlets Enactment 1997 - which was gazetted on Feb 12, 1998 - will be enforced as agreed upon by a state exco meeting on May 4 this year, Sanusi said there was no such reversal as portrayed by the media.

A reversal of the decision to enforce the ruling would mean for the 1997 enactment, or the ‘General Condition No 8' that lists the 13 categories of entertainment outlets that come under the ban, to be retracted, Sanusi ( above ) added.

“What does it mean for the ban to be retracted? It would mean (the) Kedah (government) nullifies the 1997 Enactment or does away with General Condition No 8… Did we move in that direction? No!” Sanusi stressed in a posting on his blog yesterday.

Kedah’s decision to enforce the closure of all entertainment outlets during the holy month as stipulated in the enactment passed by the previous BN-led administration had drawn criticism from outlet operators as well as other Pakatan Rakyat figures who feared the move would alienate non-Muslim voters.

'Just perception'

On Sunday, it was announced that the PAS-led Kedah government had dropped the plans and would allow the outlets to operate as long as they ensure no Muslims enter their premises during the fasting month.

NONE In a meeting between the menteri besar and the Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall and 30 entertainment outlet operators recently, Sanusi said the operators had themselves agreed to close on Fridays and to ensure Muslims are not allowed into their premises throughout Ramadan.

“If they are found (by local enforcement officers) with Muslims on their premises, they said they were prepared to have their licenses revoked... They gave their commitment to ensure this - so what’s the problem?” Sanusi asked.

He also lashed out at Chinese-based parties for portraying the regulations as newly introduced, when these are actually among the conditions to which entertainment outlet owners agree to when they sign on the operating licenses.

“It’s just a perception built up by MCA, DAP and Gerakan through the media,” said Sanusi.

In the press conference on Sunday where the decision was announced, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang reportedly expressed satisfaction with Azizan’s ( left ) decisions over the issue which he said were grounded on religious considerations.

Hadi also expressed disappointment with the press for purportedly seeking to wedge differences between Pakatan Rakyat component parties and sow confusion over the matter.

“The PAS president did not utter even one sentence stating Kedah had retracted the ban (on entertainment operations during Ramadan),” Sanusi asserted.