More flak over poster warning
Directive is ridiculous and inconsistent with political ethics, says MCA sec-gen
KOTA BARU: The local council’s latest directive ordering hair salons to remove posters of female models with uncovered hair has drawn more flak.
Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) enforcement officers had on Friday told salon operators in KB Mall to remove such posters, deeming them “too sexy” because they showed models who did not cover their heads ( tutup aurat).
MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said MPKB’s request for the hair of models in the posters to be covered was ridiculous and directing the posters to be removed was unacceptable.
“The directive by the PAS-led Pakatan Rakyat government against local non-Muslim hair salon operators is ultra-conservative and inconsistent with political ethics,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
Kong asked how hair salons could advertise effectively if the public was not shown the various hairstyles that were available.
He also wanted to know why PAS’ Pakatan partners did not protest against such an unjust directive.
MCA presidential council memberLohSengKokurgedtheKelantan state government to focus on cleanliness and collect quit rent arrears amounting to RM19mil instead of “messing up” the livelihood of hair salon operators.
“The salon operators are nonMuslims and MPKB is imposing PAS’ brand of religious laws on them. The Kelantan administration clearly underestimates the maturity of its people,” he said.
Kelantan MCA secretary Tan Ken Ten said MPKB should not impose the practice on nonMuslims, and added that the party would provide the necessary assistance to the operators.
Even PAS Supporters Congress chairman Hu Pang Chaw criticised the move, describing it as not being business friendly and that it violated a local council by-law which required only Malay models appearing in advertisements to cover their hair.
Meanwhile, MPKB president Fauzi Mat said he would have to wait for a full report from the council’s licensing and permits enforcement department before commenting on the matter.
Last December, non-Muslim hair salon operators in the state landed in trouble for allowing their female workers to cut the hair of male patrons, which is prohibited under the state’s gender segregation guidelines.
The state government decided to exempt non-Muslims from the bylaws when it stirred international concernwithparticipants of the17th AsiaPacificHair& Make-upOlympics, scheduled to be held next month at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, considering pulling out from the international event.