Muslims can discern event’s nature, no censorship needed
DAP national secretary Wayne Ong said that non-Muslims should not practice self-censorship when hosting events in public spaces, as Muslims can understand the nature of the events and would not participate recklessly.
“Honoring gods via performing on stage has been done for years without problems.
“Organizers have never misled Muslim attendees.
“Why take the extra step of putting up signs saying ‘No Entry for Unauthorized Persons’?
“Muslims can discern the nature of these events and would not participate recklessly.
“Therefore, even in public spaces, there should be no self-censorship,” he said, reported Oriental Daily.
Ong was responding to Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau’s suggestion that non-Muslim religious events should be cordoned off with caution tape, clearly marked with signs, and managed by the Rela for crowd control.
Ong said that applying Muslim standards to non-Muslim activities disrupts other religious events and questioned why Gerakan continues to accommodate unreasonable demands instead of maintaining current practices.
“Lau repeatedly claimed that Gerakan is not a racial party but a national party.
“So where has the ‘national party’ spirit gone?” Ong asked.
He also questioned why Lau would create unnecessary problems for the organiser.
Ong said that organizers already face significant challenges in arranging and promoting events to attract attendees.
Additional bureaucratic hurdles only make it more difficult and hinder cultural preservation, Ong added.
Recently a controversy erupted when the Terengganu City Council prohibited female performers from performing at the Guan Di Temple’s festival celebrations.
Terengganu exco Datuk Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah said the event violated state entertainment guidelines because it was held in a public space.
The reason is that Muslim men might have accidentally seen the female performers performing at the Guan Di Temple.
In response, Lau suggested that non-Muslim religious events should be cordoned off with caution tape, prominently announced with a sign, and managed by the Rela for crowd control.
Lau’s proposal was directed to Wan Sukairi.
DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng dismissed Wan Sukairi’s claim as ridiculous.
Meanwhile, DAP vice-chairman Teresa Kok accused Terengganu of arbitrarily interpreting regulations to suppress non-Muslim cultural activities.