MCA slams Jakim's gender segregation guidelines

PETALING JAYA: MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun has deemed the Malaysian Islamic Development Department's (Jakim) guideline that imposes gender segregation would not be well for Malaysia's development creative and entertainment industry.
Today, she asserted that generally when the public attends a concert, "there is no ill or unsavoury intent".
"They just would like to relax and enjoy the performance. Concert-goers normally attend with family members, friends or colleagues and it is a good occasion to build fellowship," Chew, who is also the Women, Family and Community Development deputy minister, said in a statement.
She said that while religious authorities may want to ensure morality among its own adherents, nevertheless, their guidelines or policies must not affect the non-Muslims who wish to enjoy a harmless social outing by attending a concert.
"Forcefully executing stringent controls owing to the harmless K-pop concert which has been deemed an incident by others lacks effectiveness. Inculcation of moral or polite behavious may be nurtured via advocacy and education," she added.
MCA Deputy President Datuk Dr. Wee Ka Siong had also frowned upon Jakim's guidelines as it was not a suitable move in a multi-cultural country like Malaysia.