cheahsoonhai

Gerakan sceptical on Kedah state govt U-turn on CNY celebrations restriction

Cheah Soon Hai urges the people not to be gullible by PR's tactics

 
 

 Press statement by

Kedah Gerakan Chairman

Dr. Cheah Soon Hai

 
 

15 January 2013

 
 

Gerakan Kedah Chairman, Dr Cheah Soon Hai loathes the recent PAS-led Kedah state government's move on imposing restrictions on upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations such as only male performers are permitted, as for female performers only secondary school performers are allowed while adults are banned.

 
 

"This is a ridiculous rule forcibly imposed by the inconsiderate state government. How can they be so insensitive to the non-Muslims? About one of the rule stating that only religious songs can be played, what are they thinking? Isn't this supposed to be a Chinese New Year celebration? This is indeed an infringement on their fundamental rights that has been guaranteed in the Constitution."

 
 

Following the uproar from the non-Muslim particularly the Chinese community, the state government decided to U-turn on the rule.From the Menteri Besar Dato Seri Azizan statement only touching on dress code ,not addressing the issue of female artist is disappointing.

The district office on the other hand declaring that it is only applicable to Muslim organisations that wants to organise a Chinese New Year celebration.

This made us very confuse over the outdoor entertainment guideline and the state government directive.,

 
 

"This is another indication that the Pakatan Rakyat government is lying through its teeth as according to my sources, this rule has actually been there since Pakatan Rakyat took over in 2008."Now they claimed it was just an misunderstanding, pretending to believe that the applicant is a Muslim organisation.It is difficult to accept the argument because the applicant is a Chinese.

 
 

Cheah, also Kedah Derga state-assemblyman said that this is another conspicuous incident that the DAP and PKR are unable to stop PAS from imposing its will on the non-Muslims following the hair-salon incident in Kelantan.

 
 

"Up to this day, nothing has been done to protect the rights of the non-Muslims in Kedah following the forced demolition of the only pig slaughterhouse in Alor Setar."

 
 

He further claimed that rather than performing a U-turn on the ruling and giving many excuses to hide their real intentions, the state government should just rescind the law to prove its sincerity.

 
 

"I hope that the non-Muslims will be able to see through the devious character of the Pakatan Rakyat government on its Islamisation policies. Therefore, the people have to exercise their vote wisely in the coming general election in order to select a government that defends their rights instead of being blatantly ignorant."