Teresa questions T'ganu govt over temple ban on female singers

DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok today questioned the Terengganu government over its agency’s decision to ban female singers from performing at a temple-hosted religious event.

This followed a news report claiming that the Kuala Terengganu City Council had ordered the Guan Di Temple there to stop having any performances by female singers during a celebration event held between July 29 and Aug 2.

“I demand the Terengganu government to make a statement about whether this ban against female singers is a new policy in the state, and if the state government has expanded the scope of its entertainment bans against the non-Muslims including Buddhist and Taoist temples.

“These recent years have seen the PAS-led Terengganu government introducing a series of policies and laws that are influenced by religious belief, including enforcing separation of men and women at stadiums.

“However, such rules that are based on Islam should not have been enforced on the non-Muslim communities, especially when it comes to Taoist and Buddhist religious celebrations,” Kok said in a statement.

Earlier today, the China Press in its report claimed that the temple has received a written instruction from the local government, prohibiting female singers from performing on stage.

It was alleged that the Kuala Terengganu City Council has added a new provision in its permit for entertainment performances to prohibit female singers.

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