Unless this is a sad joke, PAS has outdone itself this time.

It was reported that Kedah Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak has called on live-band performances with singers at bars, hotels, restaurants and eating outlets and areas that can be easily accessed by the public to close down during the Holy month of Ramadan as a show of respect. Entertainment outlets, including karaoke centres and discotheques, will not be allowed to operate during Ramadan in Kedah.

Cybercafés, bowling and snooker centres are however allowed to open. Azizan also said that all Chinese eateries and outlets that cater to international customers would be allowed to operate as usual. These include fast-food restaurants such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's and Pizza Hut.

Azizan also said cultural and religious performances would be allowed during Ramadan as long as they do not cause a disturbance to others which includes performances during the Hungry Ghost Festival that may fall during Ramadan.

He said after chairing the state executive council meeting that the regulation would be fully enforced this year following complaints by the state Islamic religious council during a meeting with district officers to prevent immoral activities during Ramadan. Chinese associations planning performances during the Hungry Ghost Festival must apply for a licence from the district office and also a police permit.

Long term vision must apply, not short-term efforts to please the Sultan

According to Azizan, the Sultan of Kedah Abdul Muadzam Shah was very particular about Islamic activities and that during Ramadan, he visited various mosques to perform tarawih prayers with the Muslim congregation.

Needless to say, a group of entertainment outlet operators have voiced their protest against the late notice that prevents them from operating during Ramadan.

The Kedah State Government should seriously reconsider its decision to ban entertainment outlets from operating during the Fasting Month.

If it goes ahead with the ban on entertainment outlets it should be a blanket ban on all outlets. There should be no favouritism as to whom or what can or cannot operate. Cultural or religious performances fall under entertainment and it should not escape this dragnet. Neither are food outlets.

Non-Malays may have to make a decision to leave in droves or stay on in Kedah state. While a one-day rally in Kuala Lumpur has purportedly cost RM1 billion in lost revenue, according to Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen, imagine what a 30-days ban on businesses in Kedah would cost?

The PAS state government should seriously review its long term goals for the state in terms of economic stability, civil rights and political stand. Regulations if enforced must not single out a particular body, and it should be a blanket ban to show its sincerity.

While dancing and Karaoke singing is banned for a month, people are allowed to hang out at snooker parlours shooting balls into pockets, people are allowed to roll bigger balls at skittles, and people are also allowed to leer at Playboy pictures in cybercafes across the state. Where does Azizan wish to draw the line?

According to one Entertainment operator, most entertainment outlets will go bankrupt within a week if they are not allowed to operate. How are salaries of staff going to be paid? If businesses are not allowed to operate during the Holy Month, the losses incurred would be intolerable, and most would have to pack up and leave the state. Most operators do not have any back-up plan for that one-month-in-a-year sabbatical.

Is the state government considering any form of compensation for affected businesses? Muslims working in related entertainment industries would also be badly affected, and may not earn any salaries for that month.

Wisdom must prevail

Barisan Nasional in all its years of governance knews better than to implement such regulations not so much for fear of the people, but as a responsibility and respect towards all citizens in the country.

A blanket ban on entertainment outlets by the Kedah state government will make the most controversial Mufti in the country look tame. Harussani – the Perak Mufti - in all his years has never dreamt to make the call for such a widespread ban.

Already, there are murmurings in the past year that Kedah state may fall back to the BN. It is not because of religion but the incomes of Kedahans are decreasing to the point that the populace are crying out in desperation. A sizeable number has lost hope as incomes decelerate to a trickle. Although many are happy with the government policies, ideals and egos cannot feed their hungry stomachs.

The State Government should seriously make a neutral study on the impact to the local populace the unexpected change of government in 2008 has created.It would be wiser to understand the real situation rather than further deter bona-fide businessmen from plying their trade during Ramadhan. If the state government considers such entertainment as Haram, it should have gradually phased them out immediately when they took over the administration of the state.

If these businesses are an embarrassment in the Holy Month of Ramadan, what makes them any less embarrassing during the entire year? Sound judgements must be the norm during Executive Council meetings and policies must respect the individual rights of the various communities.

There should not be any hastily concocted policy that favours a certain community. The non-Malays in this country have every right as the Muslims and the Malays. The state government has no right to discriminate against the minority.

In the past, PAS has always come across as a party that fought for all races in the country, and they have made an impact on the non-Malays in this country, who now have no qualms in lending them support. It should not commitharakiri now and over an issue that is not fair in the first place either.

Lastly, there is also word out that the Kedah Sultan will be anointed as the new Agong of the country later this year. Kedahans are looking forward to their beloved Sultan being crowned as the new King which seems to be the only solace for the people.

PAS must stick to doing things sincerely and not for ostentation or for symbolism. It needs to be wiser if it is to lead the country one day.

- Malaysia Chronicle