Cutting the wrong hair

Pas-ruled Kelantan’s ruling on enforcing the gender segregation rules for unisex salons where women are prohibited from cutting the hair of men and vice-versa has made us the laughing stock of the world. Their rationale is to protect women from sexual harassment at work places since they argue that hair salons and unisex establishments are the most convenient places for immoral activities. I doubt about it. Do they have the evidence or statistics to support that?  Why should men and women go to the hair salons to have illicit affairs? That is really ridiculous.  Why only target the hair salons? What about the Cineplex’s, public libraries, shopping malls, cyber cafes, playgrounds, fast-food outlets and hospitals?  Are they going to be subjected to the gender segregation rules as well?

            The ruling shows that Pas is narrow-minded and not sensitive to the feelings of non-Muslims. It is an insult to the salon proprietors and to those who patronize their premises.  Do not perceive those with stylish hair, trendy clothes and some make-up in unisex salons as immoral. You must know that they have to follow the fashions and cater to the needs of the younger generation. Are you expecting them to wear clothes and hairstyles of the 60’s?  In business if you are not keeping up with times, you will lag behind and in the end you have to close shop.

            We have civil laws to deal with any criminal activities. These apply to all business premises. If any proprietors of hair salons break the laws, then let the police take action. Take them to court and if found guilty, close them for good. Take the case of cyber gambling that takes place in some cyber cafes. The police have taken action and confiscated all their computers and accessories. So what I mean here is that there is no need to have such a by-law, just leave it to the police to take the necessary action if any unisex salons are being used as a cover for immoral activities.  Isn't that a more pragmatic solution rather than to have a gender segregation rule which ridicules men and women and their faith in God in the context of a plural society?