In a June 24 statement, Terengganu MCA liaison committee chairman Datuk Toh Chin Yaw suggested putting up signage showing the appropriate attire on the beaches in the state so that non-Muslim beachgoers can avoid being questioned by enforcement officers, The Star reported.
Malaysian political party Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) has warned Terengganu’s Islamic enforcers not to take advantage of bikini-clad tourists on the pretext of monitoring them on the state’s beaches and islands.
In a June 24 statement, Terengganu MCA liaison committee chairman Datuk Toh Chin Yaw suggested putting up signage showing the appropriate attire on the beaches in the state so that non-Muslim beachgoers can avoid being questioned by enforcement officers, The Star reported.
Toh’s comments come as a response to Terengganu councillor Mohamad Nor Hamzah’s comments that the state government would not restrict non-Muslims from dressing in bikinis, but added that authorities might approach tourists for “discussions” from time to time.
Toh is cautious of possible exploitation of the situation when enforcement officers ‘would have observed holidaymakers for awhile’ before taking action to ‘approach’ holidaymakers for such ‘discussions’.
Terengganu MCA has also voiced concerns that those who look similar to Malay Muslims could be mistakenly summoned by the authorities.
“Native Sabahans and Sarawakians, Eurasians, Malaysians who are of mixed parentage such as the children of Indian and Chinese parents may be mistaken as Muslims and summoned for not dressing appropriately,” said Toh.