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December 5, 2006

Malaysia: Islamists Demand Women "Cover Up"

Kota Baru (Kota Bharu) is the capital city of Kelantan state, Malaysia. Its municipal council is run by Islamists who are allied to the PAS party. Kelantan is the only state to have a PAS majority. Led by Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang, the PAS party was first registered on May 31, 1955. Formerly called Persatuan Islam Se-Malaysia, it now calls itself Parti Islam Se-Malaysia. PAS wants to have an Islamic government which rules the entire country, irrespective of ethnic or religious belief, under the principles of Sharia law.

In 1990, PAS gained control of Kelantan state from then prime minister Mahathir Mohammad's UMNO party, and in Kota Baru Municipal Council (MPKB), Islamist laws were soon enacted. In 1996, the city council ordered that all supermarkets should have separate check-out lines for males and females, though this was loosely enforced. Additionally, unisex hair salons were banned, and thus many hair salons had their clientele halved.

Lipstick-wearing at work was banned, cinemas were ordered to keep lights on during performances (lest un-Islamic things went on in the dark) and women were ordered to wear the tudung (the Malaysian equivalent of the Hijab or Muslim headscarf), whilst at work. In 2000, 23 women were fined for not wearing this garment.

Laws on Islamic dress can only apply to Muslims, but this does not include images of Muslim or non-Muslim women with their heads uncovered. In May 2002, the head of Kota Baru Municipal Council, Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, ordered that images of women on advertising billboards should not show them without the tudung.

In 1992, PAS had introduced an order that asserted that in Kelantan state, all female models should be shown wearing the tudung. Rahman noted that by 2002 this ruling was not being followed. He announced that any advertisements showing women without headscarves would be ripped down. He said: "However, lately we have noticed some sections of the business community are not adhering to the requirement." He claimed he was acting to protect "the image of women in the state."

Once again, Kota Baru Municipal Council has decided to ensure that women's image in the state is protected, by imposing more restrictions upon the women themselves. And women's groups are not happy at this demeaning treatment, states Malaysia's Star newspaper.

Mohammad Azman Daham, who is public relations officer for the MPKB, said that under local council by-laws, any woman, Muslim or non-Muslim, who "dressed sexily or indecently" could be fined up to 500 ringgit ($140). It was announced by MPKB that it would "no longer tolerate indecent dressing".

Issues of what is considered "indecent" are highly subjective, so the council has indicated a set of guidelines to clarify what is decent and what is indecent for women who work in retail outlets and in restaurants. It appears that service jobs are the only ones MPKB thinks women can do, or allows them to do. No mention is made of bank tellers, solicitors, business managers or other professions where women might be seen by the public, so one must assume the glass ceiling in Kelantan is set very low. Under Malaysia's religious apartheid, the rules are different for Muslims and non-Muslims.

Muslim women must dress in clothes which cover them down to their ankles, and they must also wear the tudung. For non-Muslim women, they must wear "decent outfits which do not expose the navel, show a lot of cleavage and emphasize the buttocks".

Outlawed for all women in employment, especially non-Muslims, are: "body hugging outfits which show off the body, blouses which show the navel, see-through blouses, mini-skirts, tight pants,"

Mohammad Azman Daham said: "Such outfits are prohibited here as it smears the reputation of Kota Baru and affects its status as an Islamic City." He admitted that prohibition of indecent dressing has been in place under by-laws for some time, but stated: "But now, MPKB will no longer tolerate skimpy outfits, following mounting complaints from the public."

Enforcement officers from the council would patrol localities to ensure the rules were followed. He spoke of "suspicious areas", listing off shopping malls. Any business which allowed its female employees to not dress like spinster librarians or in Muslim shrouds are to be subjected to fines.

Takiyuddin Hassan, Kelantan's State Local Government Committee chairman, said: "We define proper attire as wearing respectful clothing. We apologise to non-Muslims if this comes across as harsh but we must respect our Asian culture and religion in public."

Women's representatives have been infuriated by the latest enforcement of Muslim prudery. The executive director of Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), Ivy Josiah, called the ruling unacceptable and ridiculous. She said women were continually blamed for being raped or subjected to sexual harassment on account of the way they dressed, while men were never blamed for their predatory behavior.

She said: "I would like to know what is the (acceptable) level of tightness of a pair of pants or jeans, and what happens to those of us who have larger buttocks? Is the MPKB saying that we cannot wear pants or jeans as it will emphasise the buttocks?"

She said that the MPKB should stick to cleaning drains, managing parks, collecting garbage and providing child care centers.

The women's section chief of the MCA party, Dr Ng Yen Yen, was not amused. MCA (the Malaysian Chinese Association), is the second largest partner in a coalition with the ruling UMNO party. Dr Ng said: "If men wear tight fitting jeans, is that not deemed sexy? Why is it only the women are targeted, so much so that the ruling covers non-Muslim women as well?"

Maria Chin Abdullah, who is executive director of the Women's Development Collective wondered if the MPKB intended to impose rulings on decency to men who dressed in singlets and shorts, exposing their thighs, arms and armpits.

She said: "Firstly, are these gatal (lecherous) men intending to buy products or eat at the restaurants, or are they there to see how the women are dressed? If that is their purpose, then it is an insult to the mentality of Malaysian men."

Honey Tam, executive director of the All-Women's Action Society (Awam) said that forcing women to be the ones to be responsible in issues of morality is both discriminatory and a violation of women's rights.

Ms Tam said: "It is not the job of the council to become the 'moral police', and if it is concerned about the community it serves, it should encourage men and women to respect each other regardless of their dressing."

The illustration above right depicts a "tudung". By wearing lipstick, the model would be considered "indecent" and would be subject to a fine in Kota Baru if she appeared at work like this.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 5, 2006 1:26 AM

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