MCA VP: Kota Bharu woman's shorts fine cancelled or 'settled'?

Ti Lian Ker has asked Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming to clarify if the compound issued against a non-Muslim trader for dressing “immodestly” in Kelantan was cancelled or resolved.

“Was the issue resolved when the compound imposed was paid? If the compound was settled, then the summons was not cancelled.

“If it was cancelled, the minister must then ensure that the compound paid is refunded,” said the MCA vice-president in a Facebook post yesterday.

Ti (above) noted that while Nga said the issue was settled, he believed the trader’s adoptive father contradicted the minister based on a report by Bernama.

He quoted the report stating that “the adoptive father of the woman informed that the compound imposed had been settled”, implying that the fine was paid and not cancelled as the minister suggested.

Ti also claimed Nga was seen as attempting to silence all parties by warning them to not “prolong this issue”.

“By raising this, I am not playing up the issue as warned by the minister. I am merely making sure there’s no double talk.

“I will not allow this issue that encroached into our fundamental liberties to be ‘hushed up’ and hurried to closure without settling the real issues involving our freedoms towards upholding the rights of minorities as envisaged by the Federal Constitution,” he said.

However, Nga’s statement on Malaysians’ freedom to choose their attire was praised by Ti, who also commended the former for defending the woman.

Ti also noted that the trader should not have been fined in the first place, saying a person wearing shorts on their own premises is “modest by all standards”.

On June 26, a non-Muslim woman was issued a compound for dressing “immodestly” in public, as she was found to be wearing shorts.

The action was taken against the 35-year-old woman during a surprise inspection at her shop in Kota Bharu, Kelantan in accordance with Section 34(2)(b) of the Kota Bharu local council’s Trade, Business, and Industrial Licensing Bylaw 2019.

Gov't to look into internal regulations to address dress code issues

'Immodest' dressing fine against shop owner cancelled - Nga

COMMENT | Who will speak up for the moderate Muslim?

'Fashion policing' will deter tourism - Tiong to PAS