Hair-raising time for stylists and salon workers

KOTA BARU: The future of hair stylists and salon workers in Kelantan will be dark if the PAS-led government continues with its gender-segregation laws, a hair salon academy owner said.

Elaine Chia Chui Lan believed that the workers would eventually have no choice but to seek employment elsewhere.

Chia has operated two training centres for several years and has two hair salons which she has operated for nearly 10 years.

She said she was unsure if she could keep her academy afloat and she had yet to receive an operating licence.

She claims she has received at least 200 summonses over the past 10 years.

“I received the latest summons on Friday after my female hairstylist was caught while blow-drying a male customer’s hair at a shopping mall,” she added.

“This uncertainty is frustrating and the possibility of closing shop for good is also high.

“This by-law is not business-friendly at all and most of my apprentices are from Kelantan.

“It will be difficult for them to migrate to other states to find jobs if this controversy drags on,” she said.

Chia said she was told by the council’s licence department to wait for her permit as it was being processed.

“I have no choice but to continue paying the fines until I getmylicence. The payments are eating into my profits,” she added.

It is also learnt that the Kota Baru Municipal Council has given a verbal warning to a salon operator for putting up posters of female hair models.

The salon operator has sought the help of the state Chinese Assembly Hall and the state Chinese Chamber of Commerce.