MCA challenges Opposition leaders to justify show-cause order issued to school
(The Star) – MCA Youth has challenged Pakatan Rakyat leaders to justify a show-cause letter issued by the Pasir Puteh Land and District Office (PTJPP) in Kelantan to a Chinese school for celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the movement was angry that a festival, which is part of the Chinese community’s culture, could be interpreted as “entertainment”.
“I want Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng to answer if what they are doing is fair to the Chinese community.
“Since when is celebrating the lantern festival a crime under the entertainment enactment?
“Is this what they mean when they claim respect for different cultures?” he asked during a press conference after the MCA Youth central committee meeting at Wisma MCA yesterday.
Dr Wee, who is also Deputy Education Minister, showed a letter to the press from PTJPP, dated Sept 18, to SJK(C) Kai Chih in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, informing the headmaster that it had held an entertainment event Sept 15 from 8pm to 11.30pm at the school’s premises without obtaining a licence or approval.
“In relation to that, the organiser can be punished if found guilty of violating Section 6 (2) of the Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment 1998, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000 or a five-year jail term, or both,” Dr Wee quoted while reading out the letter.
Dr Wee questioned whether PAS is sensitive to the beliefs and culture of the community.
“If they were celebrating the festival, it should not be an issue. We consider this a violation of the rights of non-Muslims, especially the Chinese,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Wee defended the video clip Undilah and said he did not regard it as controversial despite Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim saying it offended certain segments of society.
“We do not regard the message of the video as sparking a Reformasi and it does not contain any hidden message to bring down the Government,” he said.
