Hadi blames media for tudung' issue
R. MageswariPublished: Apr 18, 2001 11:30 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang today said the women in his state have no problems with the recent ruling requiring Muslim women to wear the "tudung" in public and accused the media of playing up the issue.
"The women here are comfortable with the ruling, but you 'paper people' make a big issue out of it," Abdul Hadi told malaysiakini .
He further said the ruling is a first step in "implementing total Islamic teaching into the working mechanism of the state government".
Denying that the ruling is PAS' way of proving its Islamic credentials, the state chief and party deputy president said it will make women more religious and motivate them to be dressed "decently" in public.
"The mandatory 'tudung' ruling will make them (Muslim women) more pious and not demand blind compliance based on fear," Abdul Hadi said in an angry tone before ending the telephone interview abruptly.
Abdul Hadi was responding to the criticisms hurled at him by various women's groups for making the wearing of "tudung" mandatory for working Muslim women. According to the ruling, non-Muslim employers can be fined if their female Muslim staff are found working without headscarves.
Sisters in Islam has condemned the ruling as an attempt to impose laws and regulations to maintain control over those most disempowered in society.
"Imposing laws and regulations on dressing does not necessarily lead to more piety among the believers, but instead commands compliance based on fear of the state and of Islam," the group said.
Political scientist and human rights activist Dr Farish A. Noor lamented that PAS has taken on a very strict and dogmatic line on issues such as gender roles in society.
"Their leaders have openly stated their conviction that Malay-Muslim women should play a more traditional role in society like housewives and mothers," said Farish, who is currently researching the subject of Islamist movements in Malaysia and writing a book on PAS.
Like the Terengganu state government, PAS in Kelantan has also made the "tudung" mandatory for Muslim women in public places. Kelantan chief minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat, however, has taken it one step further and imposed a RM30 fine for those who are found infringing the ruling.
"The women here are comfortable with the ruling, but you 'paper people' make a big issue out of it," Abdul Hadi told malaysiakini .
He further said the ruling is a first step in "implementing total Islamic teaching into the working mechanism of the state government".
Denying that the ruling is PAS' way of proving its Islamic credentials, the state chief and party deputy president said it will make women more religious and motivate them to be dressed "decently" in public.
"The mandatory 'tudung' ruling will make them (Muslim women) more pious and not demand blind compliance based on fear," Abdul Hadi said in an angry tone before ending the telephone interview abruptly.
Abdul Hadi was responding to the criticisms hurled at him by various women's groups for making the wearing of "tudung" mandatory for working Muslim women. According to the ruling, non-Muslim employers can be fined if their female Muslim staff are found working without headscarves.
Sisters in Islam has condemned the ruling as an attempt to impose laws and regulations to maintain control over those most disempowered in society.
"Imposing laws and regulations on dressing does not necessarily lead to more piety among the believers, but instead commands compliance based on fear of the state and of Islam," the group said.
Political scientist and human rights activist Dr Farish A. Noor lamented that PAS has taken on a very strict and dogmatic line on issues such as gender roles in society.
"Their leaders have openly stated their conviction that Malay-Muslim women should play a more traditional role in society like housewives and mothers," said Farish, who is currently researching the subject of Islamist movements in Malaysia and writing a book on PAS.
Like the Terengganu state government, PAS in Kelantan has also made the "tudung" mandatory for Muslim women in public places. Kelantan chief minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat, however, has taken it one step further and imposed a RM30 fine for those who are found infringing the ruling.
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