Now Kota Bharu council fines non-Muslim woman for cutting man's hair

SHAH ALAM - The Kota Bharu Municipal Council has fined a female non-Muslim hair salon owner RM100 for allowing a female employee to cut a male client's hair.

The incident occurred last week at the owner's property in Kota Bharu, according to NST.

This incident follows another fine issued by the council to a female non-Muslim shop owner for wearing shorts in her workplace last month.

Kelantan Chinese Association Federation Datuk Oie Poh Choon said the salon owner paid her fine to the council four days ago and had violated the council's bylaws which have been in effect for over ten years.

"I accompanied the woman to Kota Bharu council office to settle her fine and she also admitted to committing the offence.

"She acknowledged her mistake and claimed that she forgot the regulations," he was quoted in the English daily.

He further added that it was against the council's bylaw and the requirements for business licences for non-Muslim female hairdressers to give haircuts to Muslims of the opposite sex.

He expressed his hope that the council would inform salon owners of its current laws because it appeared that many of them had forgotten them.

"During my recent gathering with the association's members, we have stressed to them not to breach the council's or any laws as we do not want certain quarters to take advantage of the situation," he was quoted as saying.

"Before we go any further, it's important to know that this is not a new regulation in the town. This law has been enforced by the council and it is in the business licence guidelines.

"To be safe, we just have to follow the rules to avoid unwanted consequences," he added.

Oie added that the association, which was founded more than 20 years ago, has close to 900 members in the state.

He said during an operation last week, the salon premises was issued the compound from the council's enforcement personnel.

On June 26, a women's clothing store owner in Kota Baru was compounded by enforcement officers from the municipal council on the grounds that she was dressed inappropriately.

A photo of the fine went viral on social media.

This stirred a reaction among some social media users as the Pas-led Kelantan state government has consistently stated that its Shariah-inspired by-laws would not impact non-Muslims.