20 April 2017

Excessive religious dogma regresses development: Foreign investors & tourists won’t want to invest in or travel to Malaysia

Excessive religious conservatism will cause a nation’s development to move backwards as neither foreign investor nor tourist would want to invest or travel to such countries.

Recently, the PAS Kelantan state government declared a regulation requiring all pasar malam traders including non-Muslims to suspend their business operations during maghrib prayer time in the evening so that Muslims can fulfil their religious obligations. This shows that no one will escape from the restrictions imposed by Kelantan’s hudud enactments once implemented full scale.

Therefore, the assurance by DAP Negeri Sembilan Chairman Anthony Loke Siew Fook that there is “no need to fear Hudud if one does not steal or rob” has been re-unmasked as a blatant lie. Such statements were sputtered clearly to dupe the public.

In the last two General Elections, MCA repeatedly stressed that we cannot compromise on PAS hudud enactments. Otherwise all Malaysians and others residing or visiting Malaysia will be affected. Moreover, the next generation of Malaysians must also be spared from its influence.

I implore on the public to look at reality. The BN Negeri Sembilan state government cares for all its residents. The Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar had also indicated that NEgeri Sembilan will maintain the BN spirit of consensus and moderation, and Negeri Sembilan will not implement the proposed  amendments the Syariah Court (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) or often time referred to as Hadi’s Bill.

So long as MCA remains with BN, MCA will not let Act 355 be imposed.

On the contrary, Pakatan Harapan’s position on Act 355 meanders in ambiguity. PPBM, PKR and Amanah have not opposed Hadi’s Bill, while DAP continues to cater to Chinese voters by putting in good words for PH front of the Chinese community.

Kelantan Local Government, Housing, and Sports Committee chairman Dato Abdul Fattah Mahmood has expressed that this new policy by the Kelantan State Government is to ensure that all business operators including night market hawkers suspend their business operations during Muslim prayer time, so that all the Muslim will fulfil their religious obligations.

He warned that “If there is any businessman who violates this regulation, the local government has the right to take action immediately, including sealing their business. The law enforcement jurisdiction is similar to banning littering.”

PAS hudud enactments will reduce the state towards religious extremism. Such a situation is a severe blow against the tourism sector and investments.

No one will be willing to invest in or travel to such countries. This can be seen by the plummeted performance of investment and tourism in Selangor state after the Opposition commenced ruling the state.

Lau Chin Kok
MCA Publicity Bureau Deputy Chairman
MCA Youth Vocational and Technical Education Training Bureau Chairman

-MCA online-