Pahang's move to ban non-Islamic religious books in hotels is just like the aim of PAS to implement hudud in Kelantan, the MCA says.

Pahang should therefore not head down the same "slippery road" as Kelantan, Pahang MCA chairperson Hoh Khai Mun cautioned today.

"Non-Muslims in Pahang hope that our beloved state will not descend down this similar slippery road, where religious authorities or local councils use hardline religious values to interfere and infringe into the personal sphere and commercial entities of non-Muslims," Hoh ( right ) said in a statement.

He was referring to the directive from the Pahang Islamic and Malay Customs Council (MAIP) to 147 hotels in the state not to place non-Islamic religious materials in their rooms or face legal action.

Pakatan states could also face this issue

However, Hoh welcomed Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob's announcement that he would be meeting MAIP on the matter.

He also warned that a situation similar could take place in the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states, especially with the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) having in January confiscated more than 300 copies the Bible in the Malay and Iban languages.

Also, the local authorities in Kelantan have imposed fines on non-Muslim hairdressers for tending to customers from the opposite gender.

"Pahang MCA hopes that with the wisdom of the state menteri besar, this issue (of banning non-Islamic religious books in hotels) can be resolved without further ado.

"Pahang has too much to lose from international tourist arrivals," Hoh added, pointing out that the Genting Highlands casino and Club Med were important tourist attractions of the state.