'Don't just protect minority rights,' T'ganu exco tells DAP

Terengganu state executive councillor Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi reminded DAP to not only protect minority rights but also pay attention to the rights of the majority.

Khalil, who helms the information, preaching, and Syariah empowerment portfolio, was referring to the recent prohibition of female singers at a temple event in the state.

“DAP often says that we (PAS) do not protect the rights of non-Muslims.

“They too need to protect the rights of Muslims, because Islam is the official religion and Muslims are the majority in our country,” he said as reported by the PAS organ Harakahdaily.

“So when we’re talking about rights, it is not only about rights of the minority but also the majority.

“Let it not be when we talk about the rights of the minority, we forget about the rights of the majority,” said Khalil (above) who is also the son of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

The Batu Buruk assemblyperson was responding to DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok who on Sunday questioned the directive to ban female singers from performing at a temple-hosted religious event.

Commenting on the directive by the Kuala Terengganu City Council, Khalil reiterated that the state government has enforced an entertainment guideline which must be followed by all.

He stressed that non-Muslims in Terengganu, comprising four percent of the state’s population, have the right to hold closed-door events that “do not disturb others”.

“If it ‘disturbs’ the general public, for example, if held at a public place, even though it is their (non-Muslim) event we cannot compromise on that because that is against the guideline.

“If they want to, do it among themselves in closed-door events, an indoor hall, there is no problem, that is their right,” he said.

Issue over event venue

On Aug 3, China Press reported that Guan Di temple received a written instruction from the local government prohibiting female singers from performing onstage.

Terengganu state executive council member Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah, who oversees local councils, previously said the temple was not granted an exemption under Kuala Terengganu City Council guidelines because the function was held in an open space.

He cited a guideline that banned women from performing before a male audience and an exemption to the ban if the audience is non-Muslim in a closed venue.

Earlier today, DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng described Wan Sukairi’s justification as “ridiculous” because no Muslims have been invited to attend the event and would not attend on their own accord.

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