Friday December 21, 2012
Kula: Repeal bad by-laws
By A. LETCHUMANAN
letchu@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: A DAP MP has called for the repeal of council by-laws to avoid misinterpretation and abuse of power by overzealous officers in the light of the controversy in Kelantan.
“The recent action by Kelantan enforcement officers clearly indicates an urgent need for such by-laws to be repealed or amended, irrespective whether it exists in a Pakatan Rakyat or Barisan Nasional government,” Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said.
He said the citizens' moral and civil rights should not be trespassed by overzealous officers.
“The action of the Kelantan enforcement officers is not acceptable although it is not the first case in the country,” he said.
Kulasegaran said he had on June 5, 2003, condemned the Ipoh City Hall enforcement team's “unacceptable action” of issuing summons to non-Muslims for holding hands under the Parks (Ipoh Municipal By-Law).
He said that following DAP's disclosure, a directive was issued to City Hall to cease enforcement of the by-law.
Kulasegaran was commenting on a report quoting PAS assistant secretary-general and Kelantan executive councillor Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan who accused National PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw of having “bad intentions” in bringing to the media cases of action taken against non-Muslims for alleged indecent behaviour.
Hu also criticised the issuance of summonses to non-Muslim hair salon workers for attending to non-Muslim customers of the opposite sex.
Takiyuddin, who is State Local Government, Culture and Tourism Committee chairman, had said the congress should play its role as part of the party.
Teluk Intan DAP MP M. Manoharan also joined in the fray to criticise Takiyuddin, saying it was ridiculous to expect congress members to compromise their religious beliefs.
He said Hu should be commended for highlighting the injustices against non-Muslims in the state.
“All must realise that the congress members are non-Muslims,” he said.
Comments
Post a Comment