The rationale behind the barring of entertaintment programmes during Muslims' prayer times must be explained or the government would lose the support of the people, said an article published on MCA's official website.

The article in Chinese, whose author's name was only stated as Tee, said the move contravenes the open religious policy practiced by both Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Mahathir stated that Malaysia is a secular Islamic state and the current premier is promoting Islam Hadhari, which does not use a narrow religious concept to administer the country," it read

On Tuesday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Abdullah Md Zin announced that no entertainment programmes or performances can be held or shown during prayer times under the new guideline issued by the Islamic Development Department.

The guideline also suggested that entertainment performances segregate male and female audiences.

'It's absurd'

In the article, Tee expressed surprise over how the government could allow such a thing as both the current and former premiers have condemned narrow religious concepts.

"We hope our open-minded prime minister (Abdullah) will respond to the guideline accordingly to prove that his policy is not imposing extreme religious concepts but is democratic and takes care of the benefits of all racial groups," said the author.

As an example, the article stated that Buddhists could not go around imposing their vegetarianism principle on those of other faiths.

"We think it is absurd! If the Islamic Development Department ignores the feeling of others, forcibly impose their belief , how could people from other religious and racial groups accept them?"

It added that non-Muslims have always tolerated the Muslim prayers which are amplified through loudspeakers that 'disturb sleep and the life of people'.

"If the government is to impose Islamic laws on the people, not to say only non-Muslims will be disgusted, maybe even Muslims (themselves) will also think it is nonsense," it said.