MCA unhappy over Terengganu’s Friday directive

The state government thinks that the directive will encourage youths to congregate at mosques for prayers instead of loitering at malls.

KUALA TERENGGANU: MCA has described the latest state government directive to shopping complexes in Terengganu as tantamount to dictating to non-Muslims on matters which don’t concern it.

It also amounts to interfering in the prerogative and discretionary powers of managements in determining how they run their businesses.

The party was expressing its displeasure and opposing the Terengganu Government’s directive to shopping complexes in the state, beginning January 1, that they close for two hours every Friday from 12.30 pm when Muslims are required to attend mosques for prayers.

The state government thinks that the directive will encourage youths to congregate at mosques for prayers instead of loitering at malls.

The state government, stressed the party in a statement, should respect the feelings of non-Muslims and bear in mind the nature of the society which is multiracial and multireligious.

“Operators and staff of shopping malls are adherents of their own religious beliefs and have to tend to their customers’ needs,” said Terengganu MCA chief Toh Chin Yaw in the statement. “As these are commercial entities, the operators should retain the freedom to determine their lunch hours.”

Toh commended the state government for being concerned about social and religious problems affecting youths and “we understand this”.

“However, closing malls will affect businesses operated by non-Muslims. Those who wish to go shopping during those hours will be affected,” he pointed out. “We are hoping that the state government rethinks the move.”

He disclosed that he would be meeting Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman on the directive as MCA had received a lot of feedback from the public. “We are compiling them for the state government,” he said.