The Kedah government has come under fire for trying to impose gender segregation at its state-level New Year’s eve countdown celebration in Sungai Petani.
Kedah MCA chairman Datuk Chong Itt Chew said he received many complaints from revellers who were unhappy that men and women were “advised” to sit separately during the gathering near the clock tower at Jalan Ibrahim.
He said a large LED screen had displayed words advising couples not to sit together but to sit in the arrangement which segregated men and women.
“I feel gender segregation is not appropriate as it ignores the sensitivity of people from different religions and creed,” Chong said yesterday.
He said many people who ushered in the New Year with their families did not expect such “untraditional practice”.
“I don’t know what is the motive of the organisers. They should respect the sensitivity of non-Muslims,” he added.
Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said there was nothing wrong with men and women sitting separately.
He said such a move could avoid problems such as pick-pocketing and indecent behaviour.
Azizan said the gender segregation was merely a suggestion and nobody was forced to comply with it.
