PAS SHOULD LEARN FROM KEDAH ENTERTAINMENT BAN FIASCO THAT EXTREME POLICIES NOT WELCOME IN OUR MODERATE COUNTRY

I refer to the recent decision by Kedah PAS government to ban entertainment outlets in Kedah during the month of Ramadhan.

I would like to congratulate the announcement by PAS President Dato Seri Abdul Hadi Awang that their government in Kedah would revoke their earlier plans to ban entertainment outlets during the month of Ramadhan.

Undoubtedly, the earlier decision taken by Kedah PAS government would have been a serious infringement of the fundamental rights of non-Muslim in Kedah. It would also have caused severe damage to the tourism industry in Kedah, especially in Langkawi.

The indecisiveness of PAS over the past week in revoking such unfair policies against non-Muslim in Kedah had certainly caused irreversible damage to the confidence of the business community, in particular those in the entertainment and tourism industry.

As such, it is hope that PAS would learn from the recent fiasco that any of their extreme policies are not welcome in any part of our country.

PAS should learn to adapt and be part of our moderate country that has been free of extremism.

In line with today’s decision, Kedah Gerakan Youth hope that Dato Seri Abdul Hadi Awang would ensure that their PAS government in Kedah would pass the requisite decision in the upcoming State Executive Council (Exco) meeting this Wednesday to revoke their earlier plans to ban entertainment outlets during Ramadhan month.

The decision in Kedah Exco should also lay down clearly all the conditions that the state wishes to impose on the entertainment outlets during Ramadhan month so as to avoid any ambiguity and confusion.

KEDAH PAKATAN RAKYAT GOVERNMENT TO FACE LEGAL ACTION IF FAIL TO LIFT BAN ON ENTERTAINMENT OUTLETS AGAINST NON-MUSLIM

I refer to the decision by Kedah Pakatan Rakyat government to ban entertainment outlets in the state for the whole period of 1 month during Ramadhan.

It is obvious that the move by Pakatan Rakyat in Kedah would affect non-Muslims as the ban of the entertainment outlets would in total. There’s no exception for non-Muslims.

Notwithstanding the move by Pakatan Rakyat had been severely criticized by Kedahans since its announcement on Wednesday by Menteri Besar Kedah, Pakatan Rakyat national leaders had failed to ensure the immediate reversal of the decision in Kedah.

The decision by Kedah Pakatan Rakyat government would:-

1. severely affect the tourism industry in Langkawi;
2. challenges the basic human rights of non-Muslim in the state; and
3. cause difficulties to operators and employees of the entertainment outlets.

Any further procrastination by Pakatan Rakyat in reversing the decision in Kedah would cause more ambiguity in the policies in the state.

Both DAP and PKR should not sacrifice Kedahans as “tribute” to please their counterparts PAS.

Kedahans do not need any rhetoric protest from any DAP or PKR leaders which would not solve the predicament faced by Kedahans.

Kedah Gerakan Youth demands that Pakatan Rakyat national leaders immediately within a period of one (1) week ensure the reversal of the decision by their government in Kedah to ban entertainment outlets against non-Muslim during the month of Ramadhan.

In the event if Pakatan Rakyat fails to meet our demands by 22nd July, 2011, we will not hesitate to commence any legal proceedings to protect the interest of all Kedahans.