Terengganu Amanah Youth: Apply attire rule to both sexes, other sports

 

Terengganu Amanah Youth has voiced support for the PAS-led state government’s decision to bar women gymnasts from participating in events including Sukan Malaysia (Sukma).

However, the wing’s chief Zamir Ghazali said this should not be confined to just gymnastics and women athletes.

“We agree with the decision not to allow women to participate in gymnastics, especially Muslim women athletes. The syariah-compliant attire guideline should also apply to male gymnasts. The state government must be firm.

“The state government is also urged to extend this to swimming (for men and women), bodybuilding (men and women), and track and field, barring male athletes from wearing shorts which do not cover the ‘aurat’.

“The syariah-compliant attire (ruling) should be holistic and not selective. It requires firmness (on the part of the state government),” he added in a statement to Malaysiakini this afternoon.

Zamir (above) also urged other PAS-ruled states - Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis - to adopt a similar stand in order not to confuse Muslims.

“This is based on evidence of how the entertainment guidelines in PAS-governed states can lead to confusion such as cinemas being allowed to operate in Terengganu and Kedah.

“Whereas in Kelantan, cinemas are considered ‘haram’ (forbidden) and ‘maksiat’ (immoral),” he added.

Zamir was responding to a Malaysiakini report that Terengganu’s women gymnasts have been recruited to participate in wushu martial arts events following the ban.

Abdul Razak Mat Amin

Terengganu Gymnastics Association (PGNT) president Abdul Razak Mat Amin told Malaysiakini that their focus would be on male gymnasts, noting how one of them had clinched the bronze in the Asian Games last week.

Abdul Razak also revealed that he held three meetings with the state government to resolve this issue and even proposed a change in attire for Terengganu’s female gymnasts.

He added that the female gymnasts have long prepared for this change so their talents could be directed to other events. - Mkini