When getting a haircut can be quite a culture shock

GROWING up in Kota Baru in the 1990s, I never really noticed any restrictions in the state.

But now that I am working in Kuala Lumpur, I find that from time to time I have to re-orient myself when I go home for holidays.

Once when making payment at a supermarket, the cashier pointed to the counter at the far end and said, line jate sano (line for the men to queue is there). I realised then I was back home in Kelantan.

Mind you, even growing up there, I still get confused. What more for outsiders?

My brother related a complaint posted by his Malay friend on Facebook after she was slapped with a summons for not wearing the tudung when she visited Kota Baru.

This culture shock happens when you don’t go to kelate sokmo (Kelantan always) often.

Other than the shops, Pasar Siti Khadijah, shopping malls and supermarkets, there really aren’t many places to go for entertainment in Kota Baru.

After work, many Kelantanese hang out at the kopitiam while some may visit the illegal pubs near the Thai border to have drinks served by sexy waitresses brought in from Thailand.

There used to be two cinemas in Kota Baru but they have closed down due to poor business.

And now there is talk that a new one will be built with the expansion of the KB Mall, but none of my friends there are excited over the news.

In fact, they are betting that the lights will be on during the screenings and there will be separate sections for male and female viewers. If that is the case, who knows how long the business will last.

The main source of entertainment for families in Kelantan now come from pirated DVDs of the latest movies and Astro.

While I was schooling, my father would bring me to the Lotus Barber shop. Later, I graduated to shops that offered funky and spiky haircuts like “Z hair” but I still felt something was missing.

There was no “oomph” factor, that soothing massage offered after a shampoo or the “chop, chop, chop” on the shoulder.

I find the latest news about nonMuslim female hairstylists getting summonses for cutting the hair of male customers disturbing.

Seriously, I didn’t realise that the gender segregation applied to nonMuslims and I called up the hairstylist in Kota Baru to confirm this.

She told me that she knew she was committing an offence but said it was her rice bowl and she was willing to face the consequences.

If this ruling is strictly enforced, I believe that Kelantanese will either choose to get their haircuts out of the state or head to the nearest border town like Golok in Thailand.

As for me, I will make sure my hair is cut before I go back to Kota Baru for my holidays.

I certainly do not relish the idea of having my hair cut halfway and being slapped with a summons by the local council.