Was she naked?

 No News Is Bad News

UPDATE:

A repeat of ‘indecent clothing’ fiasco will affect tourism, warns minister

Tiong King Sing advises leaders of PAS, which governs Kelantan, to take a leaf from other Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia.

FMT Reporters - 29 Jun 2023, 1:15pm

Tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing said the woman should not have been issued a compound notice. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A repeat of the recent incident where a non-Muslim woman was fined for wearing “indecent clothing” in Kelantan will negatively impact tourism in the state, warns tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing.

Tiong advised leaders of PAS, which governs Kelantan, to take a leaf from other Muslim nations like Saudi Arabia, which he described as having developed its tourism sector without denying the rights of those of other religions.

“If such an incident occurs again, it will cause concern and leave a massive impact on locals and tourists, thus affecting Kelantan’s tourism sector,” he said in a Facebook post.

Tiong, who is also the Bintulu MP, said the woman should not have been issued a compound notice since she was a non-Muslim and was in her own business premises, and not a location like a government building.

Citing Articles 3(1) and 8 of the Federal Constitution, he said non-Muslims are free to practise their respective religions and are protected from discrimination on the grounds of race or religion.

“As a non-Muslim, I have never denied or questioned any religion or race in this country. As Malaysians who love this country, we must have mutual respect and celebrate our diversity, while upholding the Federal Constitution,” he said.

On Monday, the Kota Bharu Municipal Council (MPKB) issued a compound notice to the 35-year-old business owner during a spot check by its enforcement officers at her shop.

MPKB president Rosnazli Amin reportedly said the woman committed an offence under Section 34(2)(b) of the Business and Industrial Trade By-Laws 2019, which states that non-Muslim business owners and their non-Muslim employees must wear “decent clothes”.

According to the compound notice, which has gone viral on social media, the woman has seven days to settle the fine or face legal action.

MPKB drew criticism from various quarters over the matter, including local government development minister Nga Kor Ming, who urged the council to retract the compound notice.

However, Lau Chin Chua, a special officer to the Kelantan menteri besar, claimed the woman was trying to deceive the public by changing her shorts after being served the notice.

He told FMT on Tuesday the woman changed into a different pair of shorts before posting a picture of her holding up the compound on social media. The post later went viral.

These shorts cost between RM23.40 to RM3,850. Definition of shorts: Short trousers that reach only to the knees or thighs.

Was she naked?

KUALA LUMPUR, June 27, 2023: Was the businesswoman naked when she was in her business premise in Kota Bharu?

If not, there is nothing else to say, and it was a case of over zealous Kota Bharu Municipal Council (MPKB) enforcement officer/s infringing on the rights and freedom of Malaysians, in this case an ethnic Chinese businesswoman.

Whether it was the same pair of shorts she was wearing when she was issued a compound is another matter. A short is a short. Period.

But for the MPKB to judge and say she was dressed indecently is unacceptable. If she was wearing a tee-shirt and a pair of shorts, she is approriately dressed. She’s not naked nor indecent.

So, MPKB, go and enforce your agenda on Muslims and their attire but do not infringe on the constitutional rights and freedom of non-Muslim Malaysians

The Anwar Ibrahim-led Unity Government (UG) has made its stand with Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming saying the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) should retract the compound issued to a non-Muslim woman for wearing shorts in her own business premises.

 the (MPKB should retract the compound issued to a non-Muslim woman for wearing shorts on her own business premises, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said.

Hello Nga! That is just not enough. Don’t just talk, take concrete action against those imposing on the rights and freedom of Malaysians.

The UG needs to defend the constitutional rights of Malaysians by taking the MPKB to court and defend the businesswoman.

If not, what next? Perhaps MPKB will also force into the homes Malaysians and act the same.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below the Taliban-like PAS Kelantan government’s defence of MPKB’s action against the businesswoman and what Nga reportedly said on the issue:

 

MB’s aide defends council over ‘indecent clothing’ fiasco

Lau Chin Chua says the majority of the non-Muslims who work and conduct business in Kelantan understand the by-laws set by local councils.

Faiz Zainudin - 27 Jun 2023, 3:16pm

The woman was wearing a different pair of shorts when she was issued a compound notice by MPKB officers, says special officer Lau Chin Chua. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: A special officer of the Kelantan menteri besar has defended the Kota Bharu Municipal Council’s (MPKB) decision to issue a compound notice to a non-Muslim woman for wearing “indecent clothing” in public.

Lau Chin Chua claimed that the woman was wearing a different outfit when she was served the compound notice for her attire, and not the t-shirt and shorts she is depicted wearing in a post that has gone viral on social media.

“She was wearing pants so short that people thought she wasn’t wearing any, only a t-shirt. She then changed into a different pair of shorts and posted a picture of the (subsequent) outfit,” Lau told FMT.

He claimed that the woman was trying to deceive the public by changing her shorts, adding that the council officers had taken a picture of her attire before issuing the fine.

Yesterday, it was reported that a 35-year-old business owner was issued a compound notice by MPKB officers during a spot check at her shop for wearing a t-shirt and shorts in a public place.

MPKB president Rosnazli Amin was quoted as saying that the woman had committed an offence under Section 34(2)(b) of the Business and Industrial Trade By-Laws 2019, which states that non-Muslim business owners and their non-Muslim employees must wear “decent clothes”.

Lau said the majority of the non-Muslims who worked and conducted business in Kelantan understood the by-laws set by the local councils, including the dress codes required for public spaces.

“Kota Bharu is subject to MPKB’s rules and regulations. It has been made clear that those working in business premises should be decently dressed.

“So, when one is not dressed decently, there’s nothing wrong with the local council issuing a compound notice to the person,” he said.

Lau also said the issue was blown out of proportion by certain parties to tarnish the image of the PAS-led state government for political reasons.

“Non-Muslims in Kelantan are not oppressed, contrary to the perception created by some. We are given freedom, so long as it does not breach the law,” he said.

He said if anyone wanted a true picture of the situation, they should come to Kelantan and see how harmoniously the non-Muslims live there.

MALAYSIA

Retract fine on non-Muslim woman who wore shorts, Nga tells Kota Baru council

Shopkeeper has right to dress how she wants on her own premises, minister tells municipal authorities

Updated 3 hours ago · Published on 27 Jun 2023 12:23PM

 

 

Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming says he has asked the Kota Baru Municipal Council not to ‘misuse’ its authority and to abide by the federal constitution as Malaysia is a multiracial country. – SYEDA IMRAN/The Vibes pic, June 27, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR – The Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) should retract the compound issued to a non-Muslim woman for wearing shorts on her own business premises, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said.

New Straits Times reported him as saying that he has asked the council not to “misuse” its authority and to abide by the federal constitution as Malaysia is a multiracial country.

“This is a non-Muslim shopkeeper on her own premises so it is her right to wear how she wants,” NST reported Nga as saying after an event in Cyberjaya today.

He said besides asking MPKB to retract the fine imposed on the woman, he also told Kelantan’s PAS-led state government to do so.

“This issue has caused a stir among the non-Muslim community,” Nga added.

On Twitter, Nga also expressed his disagreement with the compound, tweeting a Sin Chew Daily article of an interview in which he said MPKB had abused its power.

Yesterday, MPKB president Rosnazli Amin confirmed to NST that the council had issued the compound to the woman on June 25 during a check on business premises, as she was found to be wearing shorts.

She was issued the fine as this was deemed to be an offence under local council by-laws on indecent clothing in public places.

The matter came to light when photos of the compound were circulated on social media, sparking criticism from some social media users, as PAS-led Kelantan has always maintained that its shariah-inspired by-laws would not affect non-Muslims. – The Vibes, June 27, 2023