Salons may be snipped
Kota Baru may no longer issue new permits for unisex salons.
KOTA BARU: Amidst the controversy on council by-laws prohibiting hair salon workers from attending to patrons of different gender, there appears to be a move not to give new permits.
Kelantan MCA information chief Tan Ken Ten said he had been told that no new licences or permits would be issued by the municipal council for unisex salons.
“I double checked with council insiders and they confirmed this to be true. I was shocked to find out about this because it will greatly affect the hair-dressing industry.
“The council must address the issue immediately and clarify its stand as it involves non-Muslims, who are dependent on this industry,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nice Hair Salon’s owner, Alice Ong Lee Ruong, said she was issued a summons on Friday by council enforcement officers.
“I have been applying for a business premises licence since 2011. Until today, I have yet to receive it because I was told that the application was still being processed by its Licensing Department.
“One of the council officers even asked me if I preferred one or two summonses for operating without a licence. Of course, I told him one would be enough.
I double checked with council insiders and they confirmed this to be true. — TAN KEN TEN
“Somehow, I feel that this has something to do with the ongoing issue on hair salons,” Ong told reporters at her salon located on the same floor as E-Life Hair Salon in KB Mall, whose owner had settled 11 summonses since it opened in 2010.
The fines were imposed under Section 107(2) of the Local Council Act by-laws which prohibits a woman from cutting the hair of a man and vice versa, regardless of religion.
“I have paid numerous compound and fines and I am still waiting for the council to issue me a licence. In the meantime, I have no choice but to pay the fines,” Ong said.
State Islamic Affairs, Education and Dakwah Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Amar Abdullah said he was in the dark over the controversy.
However, he was confident that the council had its reasons.
“In my opinion, such by-laws were introduced to prevent Muslims from taking advantage of such establishments as a cover to commit immoral activities.
“We have also received complaints that hair salons were a hotbed for Muslims to commit all sorts of activities against Islam.
“The by-laws were enforced and designed not to leave any room for this.
“I cannot comment on the bylaws covering non-Muslims,” he said.