Guidelines for CNY celebration in Kedah threaten rights of non-Muslims – Chua
He said the guidelines, issued by the Kedah state executive council on Jan 9, involved among others, the aspects of attire, singing and dancing.
(Bernama) – MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has described the guidelines issued by the PAS-led Kedah government to organisers of Chinese New Year celebrations in Kedah as threatening and eroding the rights of the non-Muslims which are provided for in the Federal Constitution.
He said the guidelines, issued by the Kedah state executive council on Jan 9, involved among others, the aspects of attire, singing and dancing.
Dr Chua said MCA was of the opinion that the issue was not a petty one because it involved respect for matters clearly stated in the Federal Constitution and the rights of the non-Muslims.
“The DAP will say that this is just a petty issue…when we say it’s a political eunuch and it’s right and apt, they (DAP) will keep quiet and will raise other issues to confuse the people,” he told reporters after opening the 64th anniversary of Perak MCA, here today.
He was commenting on the guidelines for the organising of the 1Malaysia Chinese New Year Celebration 2013 scheduled to be held at the Star Walk Alor Setar, Kedah on Feb 15.
The guidelines prescribed, among others, appropriate attire for officers and singers involved and that the singers are encouraged to sing motivational songs and that if extreme singing and dancing activities were to take place, the state government has the right to put an immediate stop to the programme.
Dr Chua also expressed hope that the Chinese community would not give their support to the DAP as the party had repeatedly caused them to fight among themselves and influenced them to vote for PAS and support the guidelines that denied the rights of the non-Muslims.
He said the opposition pact did not have any future as they were willing to use the people just to achieve their own political agenda and that they did not have any strategy to further develop the country besides raising issues and organising demonstrations.
“If we vote for Barisan Nasional (BN), we have the assurance that the Prime Minister is Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and we have the assurance of political, social, economic and religious stability.
“We have the assurance of development every year, of satisfactory growth rate, of the fact that the country’s heading towards becoming high-income nation and of our freedom intact,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Chua also reminded farmers in the state not to fall for the opposition’s sweet talk to solve their land issues because only the ruling government could do so.
“The opposition does not even understand the issues. We will help the 1,500 farmers to solve the issues,” he said, adding that MCA had so far helped 1,150 farmers in the state to solve their land applications involving approximately 4,000 hectares of land.
