Ban on female singers in Kuala Terengganu only applies to Muslims, says Gerakan president

PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Terengganu City Council’s ban on female singers performing on stage is only applicable to Muslims, says Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau.

“Non-Muslim female singers are not subjected to any restrictions. The Chinese community in Terengganu can rest assured and continue to invite female singers to perform,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 4).

Lau said he contacted the Terengganu PAS executive councillor to clarify the issue.

He said that according to Section 8 and Section 1(2) of the relevant regulations, which prohibits female singers from performing in public places, non-Muslim audiences are exempted, and both male and female singers can perform and dance in front of non-Muslim audiences.

“Our country is a multiethnic society, and each community has its sensitivities. The important thing is that everyone can understand each other. Through more communication, we can better understand each other’s cultural differences,” he said.

Lau’s said this in response to a report by China Press on Saturday (Aug 3).

The Chinese daily claimed that the Kuala Terengganu City Council had prohibited female singers from performing on stage.

A director of the Terengganu Guan Di Temple told China Press that city council enforcement officers visited the venue on all three nights of the religious performance.