Gerakan Youth will take legal action against the opposition if it doesn't lift its Ramadan ban in Kedah.
PETALING JAYA: Kedah Gerakan Youth is threatening Pakatan Rakyat with legal action if its national leaders fail to rescind the Ramadan ban on entertainment outlets in the state.
The PAS-led Kedah state government unexpectedly announced on Wednesday that all entertainment outlets in the state, including karaoke centres and discotheques, would not be allowed to operate during Ramadan which begins in August.
Excluded from this decision were cybercafes as well as snooker and bowling centres.
The ban came under fire from various quarters on both sides of the political divide but Kedah Menteri Besar, Azizan Abdul Razak, insisted that the regulation fell under the state Entertainment Enactment 1997.
However, Kedah Gerakan Youth chief, Tan Keng Liang, said in a statement today that the ban provided no exception for non-Muslims.
“The decision will severely affect the tourism industry in Langkawi,” he pointed out.
“It also challenges the basic human rights of non-Muslims in the state and will cause difficulties to operators and employees of entertainment outlets.”
Kedah Gerakan Youth gave Pakatan national leaders one week to reverse the decision.
“In the event that Pakatan fails to meet our demand by July 22, we will not hesitate to commence legal proceedings to protect the interest of all Kedahans,” Tan warned.
“Any further procrastination would cause more ambiguity over state policies,” he added.
He also flayed DAP and PKR for “sacrificing Kedahans as a tribute to please PAS” despite DAP’s call for the revocation of the ban.
“Kedahans do not need any rhetoric protest from any DAP or PKR leader which would not solve the predicament faced by Kedahans,” Tan stated.
Meanwhile, MCA pointed out that the ban contradicted PAS’ manifesto and Pakatan’s Orange Book which states the opposition’s dedication to promoting economic welfare.
It also said that the ban was an indication that PAS had not given up on its idea of forming an Islamic state.
However, PAS Youth threw its support behind the decision and urged Azizan not to be pressured into backpedaling on it.
DAP: Ban bad for Pakatan
Meanwhile, DAP chairman Karpal Singh assured the people in Kedah that the party was taking every effort to persuade the state government to revoke the decision.
“Pakatan Rakyat cannot afford to have policies which alienate its supporters. The state government’s decision should not affect non-Muslims,” he said in a statement.
He added that any by-law which discriminated against non-Muslims will stand unconstitutional.
He stressed that DAP will not support the decision to ban the 13 types of entertainment outlets during the fasting month.
“DAP will demand that this ban is lifted in the interest of the public and also the Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.
He said “political rejects” MCA and Gerakan should not try to portray themselves as the people’s champions by playing up this issue.
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