DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang today called on the government to put a stop to the increasing incidence of insensitivity of the local authorities as well as certain state governments to the multi- racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural characteristics of Malaysia.

They should halt abuses and excesses of power whether from misguided and unlawful moral policing or trampling on the sensitivities of different ways of life in the country, he said in a statement.

Lim was referring to the increase in the incidents of what he called "high-handed local government actions" in various parts of the country.

Insensitive actions

He cited the new ruling implemented this year by the Johore Bahru municipalities requiring the written consent of Muslim neighbours before applications for renewal or new dog licences would be issued, the ban on sale of pork in open-air markets by the Kajang Municipal Council, the removal of liquor and beer signages and advertisements in coffeeshops and restaurants and the crackdown on karaoke and other entertainment outlets in various Selangor municipalities as matters of grave concern.

The DAP leader also criticised Ipoh Mayor Sirajuddin Salleh (photo) whom he said has catapulted Ipoh onto the world stage in getting reported by CNN yesterday but with Sars-like effect to drive away tourists with the image of increasing social intolerance and moral policing arresting couples for

holding hands in public.

The CNN report, headlined "Malaysian city fines hand-holding couples", broadcasted to the world that "Couples in the Malaysian city of Ipoh risk getting slapped with a fine if they hold hands in publicin a drive to keep the city ''morally clean"".

Is Sirajuddin seriously suggesting that Ipoh was "morally unclean" until his appointment as Ipoh Mayor six months ago?, Lim asked

He said it was most shocking and outrageous that the Perak state government and Ipoh Municipal Councillors had allowed the Ipoh Mayor to cast such a defamatory slur on the reputation of Ipoh without being challenged.

"Although the Perak Mentri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali had announced on Wednesday the suspension of the misguided and unlawful moral policing under the Parks (Ipoh Municipal Council) By-Laws 1985, great damage has already been done," he added.

Don't go overboard

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Adbullah Ahmad Badawi has warned enforcement officers of local councils not to overstep their boundaries.

He said at a function in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that enforcement has everything to do with good governance and ensuring effectiveness in the delivery of the public service system.

Commenting on the Ipoh incident, Abdullah said "it can cause some embarrassment".

"Don't be overzealous and don't go overboard," he advised enforcement officers.