Former Law Minister Condemns Kelantan’s Ban on Entertainment & Music on Thursday Nights

Recently, it was reported that Kelantan has banned all entertainment and musical activities on Thursday nights as they want the people to focus on acts of worship during that time.

According to the chairman of the state’s Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee, Hilmi Abdullah, shared that the matter was included in the Entertainment Control Enactment and Places of Entertainment 1998.

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“These guidelines are in line with the encouragement for Muslims to increase the number of worshippers on Thursday nights,” he said.

Thursday nights are considered special to the Muslim community as it is the time in which the people’s deeds are presented to Allah and sins committed during the week are forgiven by the virtue of worshipping Allah on Thursday nights.

“There is no legal basis”

Following this, former Law Minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim took to his Twitter page to call out the Kelantan state government’s decision to create such a ban on entertainment and music.

He wrote, “It is very vague and broad and it has no legal basis. To start with, there is no entertainment in Kelantan on any day of the month. So why the new prohibition? They say it encourages quiet reflection, makes every Kelantanese think of God and cites more prayers.”

“That’s okay, but what if there are temples or churches that have religious events that make some noise and use musical instruments? This can be construed as entertaining. Some religions conduct their prayers with music.”

He went on to point out that PAS’s community events are also considered entertainment as they are often loud and full of jokes, and questioned whether they will be allowed to be held on Thursday nights.

“I don’t understand PAS leaders. If they want to do God’s bidding, they should empathise with the people and serve them well. It’s not right to only punish them,” he added.

What do you think of Kelantan’s new law that bans music and entertainment on Thursday night?

Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

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