. Sahabat-sahabat, saya tertarik dengan artikel the star (berita sebenarnya) tentang langkah Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu- Bandaraya Islam yang mengenakan denda kepada wanita-wanita yang tidak menutup aurat. Berikut adalah berita tersebut:
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MPKB: Cover up or else
By C.A. ZULKIFLE and IAN MCINTYRE
KOTA BARU: Women working in retail outlets and restaurants in Kelantan have been warned to mind their dressing or be prepared to face a fine.
The Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) has announced that it would âno longer tolerate indecent dressingâ by women, both Muslim and non-Muslim.
Public relations officer Mohd Azman Daham said that under local council by-laws women who âdressed sexily or indecentlyâ could be fined up to RM500.
âSuch outfits are prohibited here as it smears the reputation of Kota Baru and affects its status as an Islamic City,â he said in an interview.
He added that although punishment for indecent dressing was in place under the by-laws, it had not been totally enforced.
âBut now, MPKB will no longer tolerate skimpy outfits, following mounting complaints from the public,â Mohd Azman said, adding that under the by-laws, women working in retail outlets should wear decent clothes.
Council enforcement officers, he added, would step up checks in various localities.
Mohd Azman said MPKB would focus on âsuspicious areasâ, especially the shopping malls in Taman Hijau, Taman Uda and Taman Tengku Anis here.
The council had received complaints from ratepayers that certain shop assistants and waitresses here donned sexy outfits, supposedly to woo more male customers.
Under the standard dress code here, a Muslim women has to be covered until the ankles and wear a tudung. Non-Muslim women are required to wear decent clothes.
Tight-fitting tops and pants were not allowed, even for non-Muslims, Mohd Azman said.
Mohd Azman said under the council by-laws, the owners of retail outlets who employed indecently dressed workers could also be fined.
If the offence was repeated, the council could suspend the business permit of the outlet, he added.
State Local Government Committee chairman Takiyuddin Hassan said the state had not taken any tough action yet as, the MPKB had been more involved in generating awareness about proper attire.
âWe define proper attire as wearing respectful clothing,â he said.
âWe apologise to non-Muslims if this comes across as harsh but we must respect our Asian culture and religion in public.â
He noted that âeye-poppingâ outfits invited undesirable attention.
He urged the people to co-operate, especially those in the retail and restaurant businesses.
Trader Che Suraya Hulaimi Sulaiman, 32, supported the council's move, saying: âAlmost everywhere there are retail assistants or waitresses wearing sexy clothes.
âThis is an insult to Islam.â
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Namun, dalam usaha untuk menegakkan syiar Islam bukanlah satu benda yang senang. Terdapat juga tentangan daripada pelbagai pihak. Antaranya:
Outrage over fine for ârevealing clothesâ
PETALING JAYA: Several women's organisations are up in arms over the decision of the Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB) to fine women working in retail outlets and restaurants who wear clothes deemed to be revealing.
The offending items include tight fitting blouses, pants, jeans and mini-skirts.
Womenâs Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah said the ruling was unacceptable and ridiculous, as women were always blamed for rape, sexual harassment and molest due their attire, while the men were never blamed for their behaviour.
She said the ruling was a reflection of a narrow mindset and she was wondering if they would stop their nonsense only when the women became invisible.
Josiah said everyone had the freedom to wear clothes of their choice, and that no one should dictate what a person should wear, certainly not the MPKB.
âI would like to know what is the (acceptable) level of tightness of a pair of pants or jeans, and what happens to those of us who have larger buttocks? Is the MPKB saying that we cannot wear pants or jeans as it will emphasise the buttocks?'' she asked when contacted yesterday.
Josiah said the MPKB should instead concentrate on cleaning the drains and parks, collecting rubbish and providing child care centres.
MPKB public relations officer Mohd Azman Daham said that under the local council by-law, those caught wearing outfits deemed indecent or sexy could be fined RM500.
He said the ruling was enforced due to complaints about retail assistants and waitresses wearing sexy outfits to woo male customers to their outlets and restaurants.
Wanita MCA chief Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen said once again Kelantan has come out with a policy to target the women.
âIf men wear tight fitting jeans, is that not deemed sexy? Why is it only the women are targeted, so much so that the ruling covers non-Muslim women as well?'' she asked.
Dr Ng urged the PAS-led government not to introduce ridiculous policies.
Dr Ng said that she had confidence that the women working in the retail outlets and restaurants had the appropriate sense of dress and do not need anyone telling or controlling them on what to wear.
Women's Development Collective executive director Maria Chin Abdullah wondered whether the council planned to impose the same ruling on men dressed in singlets and shorts that exposed their thighs, arms and even armpits.
âFirstly, are these gatal (lecherous) men intending to buy products or eat at the restaurants, or are they there to see how the women are dressed? If that is their purpose, then it is an insult to the mentality of Malaysian men.''
The All-Womenâs Action Society (Awam) executive director Honey Tan said that Awam was totally opposed to the move, if it was intended to improve moral standards.
Forcing women to bear the burden of morality is discriminatory and a violation of their rights, said Tan.
âIt is not the job of the council to become the 'moral police', and if it is concerned about the community it serves, it should encourage men and women to respect each other regardless of their dressing,'' she added.
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Persoalannya, salahkah langkah MPKB? Macam mana cara yang terbaik untuk kita memahamkan orang ramai tentang betapa WAJIB nya untuk menurut perintah Allah s.w.t TANPA kompromi. Saya rasa MPKB dah jalankan tanggungjawab mereka untuk menegakkan syiar Islam dengan kuasa yang ada pada mereka. Apa pendapat sahabat-sahabat pula?
- berita diambil dari:
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"Jangan gugur sebelum syahid!"