‘Don’t harass tourists in bikinis’
Terengganu MCA: Putting up signage can prevent abuse by officers
PETALING JAYA: MCA has warned Terengganu’s Islamic enforcers not to take advantage of bikini-clad tourists on the pretext of monitoring them on the state’s beaches and islands.
Instead, the Terengganu MCA has suggested putting up signage showing the appropriate attire on the beaches in the state so that nonMuslim beachgoers can avoid being questioned by enforcement officers.
“To avoid doubts and arguments, it is safer to place signage at the seaside showing the permitted beach-wear for Muslims and nonMuslims,” said Terengganu MCA liaison committee chairman Datuk Toh Chin Yaw in a statement yesterday.
Toh said this in response to a report quoting Terengganu human capital, missionary work and information executive councillor Mohamad Nor Hamzah saying that the state government would not restrict non-Muslims from dressing in bikinis.
However, Mohamad Nor added that the authorities might approach tourists for “discussions” from time to time.
Toh said “approaching tourists” would also mean that the enforcement officers would have observed the holidaymakers for a while before their next action to “approach” and “discuss”.
“Terengganu MCA does not want this situation to be exploited and abused by enforcement officers,” he said.
He added that Terengganu MCA was concerned that those who look similar to Malay Muslims could be mistakenly summoned by the authorities.
“Native Sabahans and Sarawakians, Eurasians, Malaysians who are of mixed parentage such as the children of Indian and Chinese parents may be mistaken as Muslims and summoned for not dressing appropriately,” said Toh.
He added that the signage should also include the do’s and dont’s on the beach, saying that unacceptable behaviour includes nudity, copulation, littering, bringing glass containers, disturbing turtles, and shining lights at night that frighten baby turtles.
To avoid doubts and arguments, it is safer to place signage at the seaside e showing the permitted beach-wear for Muslims and non-Muslims. Datuk Toh Chin Yaw