Selangor PAS today clarified that the new regulation imposed by the Kuala Selangor District Council, in which unmarried Muslim couples must sit separately in cinemas, only aims to curb public indecency and has nothing to do with the agenda to push for hudud or Islamic laws.

Party state commissioner Dr Abdul Rani Osman, deputy commissioner Khalid Samad and Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad called a press conference in the state assembly building to state the party’s stance on the issue.

NONE “'This is not the beginning of hudud laws,” stressed Rani ( right ), who is also Meru assemblyperson.

He explained that this is in line with the party stance to curb social illnesses such as baby dumping.

“(The new regulation) is not cancelled but only postponed ,” he said.

Khalid further pointed out that the “reminder” was imposed after the local council received complaints from cinema customers that some customers behaved indecently in the cinema.

“We just want to remind that a cinema is a public place where one should behave decently and politely. Don’t make it into a poor man’s nightclub where whatever things that are done in a nightclub is being done there.”

The Shah Alam MP said public decency not only applies to Muslims but also non-Muslims, hence the regulation will be revised in the full board meeting of the local council.

“The full board meeting will probably adjust it for both Muslims and non-Muslims. The objective is to address public complaints,” he added.

Dzulkefly likened the regulation to reminders put up at lottery outlets or convenience shops to remind Muslims that they were prohibited from purchasing lottery tickets or alcohol.

“Don’t go beyond that please... We are not interested in moral policing,” he stressed, adding that the new regulation is not equal to gender segregation which allocates separate seating for both sexes.

They revealed that the Kuala Selangor District Council will discuss and decide on the issue during the next full board meeting within this month.

Asked why the regulation was implemented before it was approved by the full board meeting, Khalid said they are also baffled over it.

Dzulkefly said it may be the work of some “overzealous” councillors who did not follow procedures.